ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Departmental Regulation

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress his Department has made on the Red Tape Challenge; and which regulations have been (a) abolished and (b) revised as part of the Challenge.

Charles Hendry: DECG has regulations in both the Environment and Energy themes of the Red Tape Challenge and work is ongoing to review these. We expect announcements on the environment theme in the spring and on the energy theme in summer 2012. However, DECC has repealed 20 regulations since conducting its own review in 2010.

Electricity: Prices

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to reduce the electricity prices paid by energy intensive industry.

Gregory Barker: While prices paid by individual industrial customers are based on commercially confidential contractual arrangements between the customer and their energy supplier, Ofgem monitors the market to ensure that suppliers' profits are not excessive and that consumers pay a fair price for their energy. Electricity prices paid by industrial users in the UK are largely determined by the wholesale cost of electricity (itself driven by global fossil fuel prices and the marginal electricity generating technology at a given point in time).
	Energy suppliers will also add the cost of transporting the electricity to the customer, any other administrative costs incurred in supplying electricity and a retail margin. Industrial electricity prices will also include the cost of the climate change levy as well as the cost of other energy and climate change policies which place an obligation on the retail energy supplier, which that supplier may pass on to their customers.
	The Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), announced in his autumn statement on 29 November 2011, Official Report, column 807, a package of measures to reduce the transitional impacts of energy and climate change policies on the costs of electricity for those energy intensive industries whose international competitiveness is most affected by these policies.
	This package is worth £250 million to British business over the current spending review period. It will consist, subject to EU state aid clearance, of compensation for the higher electricity costs arising from the EU Emissions Trading System and the Carbon Price Floor. The Chancellor of the Exchequer also announced an increase to 90% in the level of reduction on the rate of climate Change Levy for those industries who sign a Climate Change Agreement with my Department. The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), is leading the development of the eligibility criteria for the compensation package and the metrics to be used in the criteria with support from the Department with HM Treasury.

Electricity: Prices

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will consider capping the amount end consumers pay in respect of green taxes and charges via their electricity bill.

Charles Hendry: The Government are committed to ensuring that the transformation to a low-carbon economy and delivery of secure energy supplies happen at least cost to energy consumers. To help ensure that policies achieve their objectives cost-effectively and affordably the 2010 spending review set an overall cap for DECC's tax and spending through policies that entail levy-funded spending.
	Currently energy and climate policies add just 1% on average to household electricity bills; while by 2020 households are estimated to be saving around 16% on average compared to what they would have paid in the absence of policies. For businesses, policies currently add around 21% to an average electricity bill paid by medium-sized business users, while by 2020 that will rise to 25%. However, for most businesses direct energy costs are a relatively small proportion of total costs.
	The Government recognise that energy and climate change policies can potentially have distributional impacts, particularly for the most vulnerable households and the most energy intensive businesses, and have taken action to address this. For example, the warm home discount scheme helps eligible low-income and vulnerable households with their energy costs through a rebate on electricity bills. Last year the Government also announced a package of measures to reduce the impact of policy on the costs of electricity for the most electricity-intensive industries.

Energy: Meters

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to ensure that any objections to the Draft Technical Specification by the European Commission or other EU member states will not delay implementation of the smart meter rollout.

Charles Hendry: In line with the requirements of the Technical Standards Directive (98/34/EC), the Government will notify the GB specifications for smart metering equipment to the Commission in the coming weeks. Some suppliers have indicated they will begin rolling-out smart meters once the specifications are notified. This will provide consumers the opportunity to experience the benefits of smart meters ahead of mass rollout. If objections are raised to the notification, they will be addressed ahead of the planned start of mass rollout in 2014. The Government are engaging with industry experts, the Commission and other member states to minimise the risk of delay under the Technical Standards Directive Process.

Exhaust Emissions: Shipping

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on the European Commission proposal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping.

Gregory Barker: The Government recognises the importance of addressing greenhouse gas emissions from shipping. The UK is playing an active role in the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) work on technical, operational and market based measures to reduce emissions on a global basis. The first best approach for dealing with emissions from the international maritime sector is through application of a global Emissions Trading System agreed through the IMO.
	However, the Government recognises the value of a European approach to addressing emissions from shipping and looks forward to receiving the European Commission's legislative proposal, noting that the EU had given the IMO until the end of 2011 to reach an agreement on a global basis.

Fuel Poverty

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assistance the energy company obligation will provide to people on low pay who are at risk of fuel poverty but are not receiving benefits.

Gregory Barker: The Green Deal and energy company obligation will enable households to access energy efficiency measures at no up-front cost, while also providing extra assistance to those who need it most.
	We have proposed that the Affordable Warmth element of ECO should be targeted at low income and vulnerable households. Means tested benefits are one of the best ways of identifying those likely to be most at risk of suffering from the effects of fuel poverty. A number of the qualifying benefits target those in low paid work, such as child tax credit.
	Under our proposals, all households would be able to access the support available under the carbon reduction element of ECO, including those on low pay who are at risk of fuel poverty but not receiving benefits.
	We will also be developing guidance shortly under the Home Energy Conservation Act to encourage local authorities to promote the Green Deal/ECO in deprived areas.
	Furthermore, the consultation invited views on whether there is a need for and the possible structure of any safeguards within the policy to ensure that those most at risk of fuel poverty will benefit sufficiently from ECO. We are considering carefully responses to the Green Deal and ECO consultation and the final details of the policy will be published in due course.

Gas: Prices

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the unit cost of disposal of advanced gas-cooled spent reactor fuel; and what the cost would be for the disposal of such fuel from a new fleet of nuclear power stations.

Charles Hendry: In order to support the Government's development of a Waste Transfer Pricing Methodology for the disposal of higher activity waste from new nuclear power stations, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has provided cost estimates for the disposal of spent fuel, based on the current NDA reference case and also on a range of alternative scenarios which differ from the reference case, for example with regard to geology or inventory. These cost estimates relate to the disposal of a canister of spent fuel and the canister is designed to be capable of disposing of spent fuel from both advanced gas-cooled reactors and pressurised water reactors.
	These figures were set out in Annex C of the "Waste Transfer Pricing Methodology for the disposal of higher activity waste from new nuclear power stations" published in December 2011, which is available at
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/Consultations/nuclear-waste-transfer-pricing/3798-waste-transfer-pricing-methodology.pdf
	No energy companies or reactor vendors are proposing the construction of advanced gas-cooled reactors as part of any new fleet of new nuclear power stations.

Green Deal Scheme

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what incentives he proposes to introduce to encourage take-up of the Green Deal.

Gregory Barker: Last year the Government announced a big injection of funding—£200 million—to help boost early take-up of the Green Deal which will provide a special time limited ‘introductory’ offer.
	There are also existing or potential regulatory leavers that will help drive demand. We have acted to address the worst private rented sector buildings. From 2016 all domestic tenants will not be unreasonably refused consent from their landlords to make energy efficiency improvements to their homes and from 2018 it will be unlawful to rent out domestic or non-domestic properties which fall below an ‘E’ energy efficiency rating.
	In addition, the Department for Communities and Local Government is currently consulting on changes to Part L of the Building Regulations that could further drive take-up of energy efficiency measures from October 2012.
	DECC is also working in partnership with our stakeholders to look at further ways of stimulating demand.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Economic Situation

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the likely level of reduction in greenhouse gas emissions due to the 2008-10 recession.

Gregory Barker: DECC has made an initial estimate of the impact of lower than expected growth on its CO2 emissions projections, based on the model it uses to produce its published energy and emissions projections. DECC estimates that projected CO2 gas emissions in the first carbon budget period (2008-12) are around 6% lower than they would have been if UK GDP were to have grown as forecast in the 2008 budget rather than as forecast in budget 2011.
	Projections for the 2nd and 3rd carbon budget period (2013 to 2017) and (2018 to 2022) are around 8% and 9% lower respectively. However the analysis suggests that, under the central projections even if growth had remained as projected in 2008, the Government would still have been on track to meet the first three carbon budgets.

Housing: Insulation

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what consideration his Department has given to a transition period for the move from subsidies for cavity wall and loft insulation to solid wall insulation under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target. [R]

Gregory Barker: Cavity wall insulation (CWI), loft insulation, and solid wall insulation (SWI) are all eligible measures under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT). To date, the obligated companies have focused primarily on insulation for lofts and wall cavities with only limited promotion of SWI, meaning that a large proportion of easy-to-treat cavities have already been filled or will have been by the end of 2012. The CERT will transition to the new Green Deal and energy company obligation (ECO) at the end of 2012. One of our key priorities for the new schemes will be to facilitate a stronger market for SWI. However, there will still be an important role for CWI and loft insulation under ECO, particularly in supporting uptake for low-income consumers.
	We are now considering responses to the recent public consultation on Green Deal and ECO, and consideration of the transition between schemes will be included in the Government's response.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2012, Official Report, column 479W, on renewable energy: feed-in tariffs, what estimate he has made of the number of solar PV installations since 12 December 2011; what estimate he has made of the annual cost of remunerating the amount of solar PV installed since 12 December 2011 at the Government's revised feed-in tariff rates; and what estimate he has made of the additional annual cost of remunerating the amount of solar PV installed since 12 December 2011 at the original tariff rates.

Gregory Barker: Latest data from the central FITs register and the Microgeneration Certification scheme database suggest there were around 37,000 Solar PV installations between 12 December 2011 and 26 February 2012 (monthly and weekly deployment statistics are available on the DECC website at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/energy_stats/source/fits/fits.aspx
	Note that these data are provisional, and the installation numbers (particularly for the most recent week) are likely to be revised upwards in later releases.
	If all these installations receive the tariffs proposed in the October 2011 consultation (eg 21p/kWh for <4kW installations) for electricity generated from 1 April 2012, there would be an annual cost of approximately £25 million (nominal, undiscounted), or a lifetime cost of around £350 million (real 2011 prices, discounted). If all these installations receive the original tariffs (eg 43p/kWh for <4kW installations) for the 25 year tariff lifetime, there would be an annual cost of approximately £50 million (nominal, undiscounted), or a lifetime cost of approximately £750 million (real 2011 prices, discounted).
	Note that these figures are lower than our earlier estimate of the potential costs of not seeking to appeal to the Supreme Court against the Court of Appeal's judgment on feed-in tariffs for two reasons:
	(1) they only include data on installations up to 26 February, rather than installations to end March; and
	(2) the installation rate is lower than we anticipated it would have been if we had not sought leave to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Sellafield

Daniel Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has for the (a) future of Sellafield and (b) long-term storage and handling of spent fuel; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: Land adjacent to the existing Sellafield site is one of the eight locations considered suitable for future nuclear power stations and plans to build a new nuclear reactor here were confirmed in June 2011, with a completion date of 2025. Sellafield may, in future, also house other facilities, including a fuel fabrication plant to convert plutonium to MOX fuel, or a viable alternative, for new reactors. Legacy facilities at the site are being decommissioned by Nuclear Management Partners, under contract to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). Intermediate and high level waste will continue to be stored safely and securely until a geological disposal facility (GDF) is available.
	The credible options paper on spent oxide fuel management, published by the NDA, concluded that the most viable option is to complete the existing contracts and then close the THORP plant; with any future spent fuel arisings being stored and not reprocessed. The assumption is that the spent fuel from new nuclear power stations will be kept on site, in interim storage, until the point at which it is disposed of in a GDF and that the encapsulation of spent fuel will also be carried out on site.

Wind Power: Yorkshire East

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what has been the total cost to the public purse of the Lissett windfarm in East Yorkshire.

Gregory Barker: The renewables obligation (RO) is currently the main financial mechanism by which the Government incentivises the deployment of large-scale renewable electricity generation. It is a market based subsidy and the funding comes ultimately from electricity consumers and is classified by the ONS as ‘tax and spend’.
	The RO is administered by Ofgem who issued Lissett windfarm with 179,765 ROCs in respect of the electricity it generated between February 2009 and November 2011. DECC estimate the value of this ROC support at £9.2 million in 2011-12 prices, based on a mixture of published and provisional data from Ofgem.

TRANSPORT

Departmental Recruitment

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department spent on (a) recruitment services and (b) executive search agencies in each month since May 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Norman Baker: The central Department and its seven Executive Agencies have spent £51,967 on recruitment services since May 2010.
	The Central Department and its seven executive Agencies have not engaged executive search agencies since May 2010. All other recruitment is handled by an internal centralised resource.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many households (a) nationally, (b) in Warwickshire and (c) in North Warwickshire constituency have received assistance from the HS2 Exceptional Hardship Scheme; and what the total monetary value is of compensation allocated in each case.

Justine Greening: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) Nationally
	47 applications have completed, with a total monetary value of £27,230,850.
	(b) Warwickshire
	13 applications have completed, with a total monetary value of £6,077,500.
	(c) North Warwickshire Constituency
	Six applications have completed, with a total monetary value of £3,045,000.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials in her Department are working only on the High Speed 2 project; and how many hours they spent working on the project in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011.

Justine Greening: There are currently 21 officials working full-time on high speed rail with additional input from a number of other officials within the Department.
	I would also refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 19 January 2012, Official Report, column 916W.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she plans to announce the route of the Y-route of High Speed Two.

Justine Greening: holding answer 28 February 2012
	As set out in the departmental business plan, my intention is to take a decision on the line of route for the second phase of High Speed 2 no later than the end of 2014.

High Speed 2 Railway Line: Nature Reserves

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will consider all available information on (a) sites of environmental importance and (b) nature reserves and local wildlife sites when a preferred route for Phase Two of her Department's proposals for High Speed 2 is identified.

Justine Greening: holding answer 28 February 2012
	Sites of environmental importance, nature reserves and local wildlife sites will be considered in the accompanying appraisal of sustainability, which is appropriate for that stage of development. A more detailed environmental impact assessment would follow decisions on the ‘Y’ in much the same way as due process is being followed for the environmental impact assessment for phase 1.

M25: Hertfordshire

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects the roadworks on the M25 near South Mimms to be completed and all carriageways opened; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Penning: The works on the M25 junction 16-23 project are expected to complete by July this year.

Motor Vehicles: Safety

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport has not responded to correspondence from Martyn Faulds on red indicators on classic American cars.

Norman Baker: The Department has no record of receiving correspondence from Martyn Faulds on red indicators on classic American cars but would be pleased to respond if a copy or copies can be sent to:
	The Department for Transport
	Great Minster House
	33 Horseferry Road
	London
	SW1P 4DR

SCOTLAND

Action for Employment

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what contracts his Department has with A4e; and what the (a) purpose and (b) value is of each such contract.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office has no contracts with A4e.

Departmental Pay

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible are paid (i) £100,000 or more and (ii) £142,500 or more per annum in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Mundell: There are no officials in the Scotland Office or its non-departmental public bodies that are paid £100,000 or more per annum.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Drinking Water: Costs

Therese Coffey: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the annual cost is of bottled water supplied to (a) committee rooms and (b) Westminster Hall.

John Thurso: The cost of providing bottled water for House of Commons Committee and meeting rooms in the Palace of Westminster and Portcullis House for financial year 2010-11 was £6,983.25, and from April 2011 until December 2011 £8,110.70. It is not possible to separate the cost of water provided in Westminster Hall. The Commission has, following a proposal by the Administration Committee, agreed to trials using tap water and a water cooler, to test the proposition that alternative ways of providing water would have higher costs but result in reduced carbon emissions.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Action for Employment

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what contracts his Department has with A4e; and what the (a) purpose and (b) value is of each such contract.

Owen Paterson: My Department does not have any contract with A4e.

Departmental Pay

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible are paid (i) £100,000 or more and (ii) £142,500 or more per annum in the latest period for which figures are available.

Owen Paterson: One official in my Department is currently paid over £100,000 pa. No officials are paid more than £142,500 pa.
	There are currently no officials in any of the non-departmental bodies for which I am responsible who are paid more than £100,000 pa.

Members

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times (a) he and (b) the Minister of State have received correspondence using House of Commons notepaper from hon. Members who have not taken their seats.

Owen Paterson: The information requested is as follows.
	(a) Four times
	(b) None

Political Parties

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with representatives of political parties in Northern Ireland on entitlement to allowances for parties whose Members have not taken their seats in the House of Commons.

Owen Paterson: I have had a number of discussions with representatives of political parties on this issue. These discussions are continuing.

WALES

Broadband

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions she has had with (a) ministerial colleagues and (b) others on the provision of broadband in Wales.

David Jones: The Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), and I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues in the Department for Culture. Media and Sport on a range of issues, including broadband.
	The Secretary of State has also had recent discussions with the First Minister and the Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science on this issue.

Inward Investment

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps she is taking to promote Wales as a destination for inward investment.

Cheryl Gillan: I am committed to working with UKTI, the Welsh Government and others to improve the levels of inward investment attracted to Wales.
	The Welsh Affairs Select Committee report last week highlights a number of important issues but in particular the need for joint working between this Government and the Welsh Government is very clear.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Telecommunications: Competition

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effect on competition and consumers of the cost to smaller providers of submitting appeals under the current telecoms appeals framework.

Edward Vaizey: While no such assessment has been made I can confirm that issues regarding competition and consumers are at the heart of Ofcom's decision making. Appeals against Ofcom's decisions can be complex and therefore lengthy and costly. To see how this can be improved the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has carried out two consultations on the telecoms appeals framework and we are looking at steps to streamline the process to help all telecoms providers.

Telecommunications: Competition

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what comparative assessment he has made of the competitive advantage to larger telecoms providers, as compared to smaller competitors, of larger competitors' greater ability to afford the costs of appealing Ofcom's decisions.

Edward Vaizey: While no such assessment has been made I can confirm that issues regarding competition lie at the heart of Ofcom's decision making. Appeals against Ofcom's decisions can be complex and therefore lengthy and costly. To see how this can be improved the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has carried out two consultations on the telecoms appeals framework and we are looking at steps to streamline the process to help all telecoms providers.

Telecommunications: Competition

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the average cost of appeals submitted under the current telecoms appeals regime.

Edward Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) recognises that appeals against Ofcom's regulatory decisions can be lengthy and costly and that is why DCMS has carried out two consultations to explore options for improving the process. The recent consultation noted that the costs of appeals to industry are not known as such costs are confidential to appellants, however anecdotal evidence suggests that such costs can range from £100,000 to millions of pounds.

Telecommunications: Competition

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effect of his proposed amendments to the telecoms appeals framework on (a) the number of appeals submitted, (b) the average length of an appeal and (c) the average cost of an appeal.

Edward Vaizey: As noted in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's recent consultation on telecoms appeals there was no intention for the proposals to result in fewer appeals as there was no intention to restrict the right of appeal for telecoms providers. While no assessment has been made on the average length of appeals the consultation did note that the time spent by Ofcom in defending appeals was 11,500 staff hours in the financial year 2009-10 and 9,000 hours from April 2011 to January 2012. The average costs of appeals to industry are not known as such costs are confidential to appellants, however anecdotal evidence suggests that such costs can range from £100,000 to millions of pounds. The consultation noted that the costs of appeals to Ofcom were more than £2 million in 2010-11.

Telecommunications: Competition

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he expects (a) amendments to the telecoms appeals framework in order to introduce a more streamlined and efficient appeals regime and (b) the introduction of secondary legislation to effect the necessary change will take place by his deadline previously announced as 6 April 2012.

Edward Vaizey: The consultation on the telecoms appeals framework suggested that potential legislative changes could be made in time to come into force on 6 April 2012. However, in light of the responses received it is now clear that whilst legislative change cannot be ruled out, the proposed options consulted on need to be explored further and that process will not be completed in time for reforms to come into force on 6 April 2012.

Telecommunications: Competition

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the commercial effect on smaller telecoms providers of time taken for Ofcom regulation due to additional work undertaken by Ofcom in order to prepare to defend its decisions against a potential appeal.

Edward Vaizey: No such assessment has been made. However, the Department remains concerned about the impact of lengthy and costly appeals against decisions on Ofcom's ability to regulate for the benefit of consumers. For that reason, the Department has held two consultations on the telecoms appeal framework. The first in autumn 2010, as part of a consultation on implementing changes to the electronic communications framework, and the second in August 2011 (closed October 2011). We are currently considering what action to take as a result of responses received.

Television: Licensing

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many pensioners in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (b) the London Borough of Bexley received a free television licence in each of the last three years.

Edward Vaizey: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry South (Mr Cunningham), on 8 November 2011, Official Report, columns 193-94W.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Action for Employment

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contracts her Department has with A4e; and what the (a) purpose and (b) monetary value is of each such contract.

Damian Green: holding answer 28 February 2012
	The Home Department including its Executive agencies has no contracts with A4e.

Arrest Warrants

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many European arrest warrants have been issued for arresting and bringing to the UK a suspect from each EU country in each of the last eight years.

Damian Green: The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service for Scotland are the designated UK authorities responsible for processing European arrest warrants (EAWs). Information on part teases (persons wanted from the UK by another member state) and part three cases (persons wanted by the UK from another member state).
	Due to the way data was recorded prior to 1 April 2009, it is not possible to provide data on the number of warrants issued to each European Union member state prior to this date. For cases before this date, a manual examination of files would have to take place which would incur disproportionate cost.
	The following tables show the number of part three requests issued by the UK for those persons wanted from another EU member state.
	
		
			 Part three EAW requests issued by the UK in 2010-11 
			 Country Number of part  three  requests issued by UK 
			 Spain 62 
			 Netherlands 41 
			 Ireland 37 
			 All(1) 23 
			 France 16 
			 Germany 13 
			 Poland 10 
			 Cyprus 9 
			 Lithuania 9 
			 Belgium 7 
			 Portugal 7 
			 Bulgaria 4 
			 Romania 4 
			 Czech Republic 2 
			 Estonia 2 
			 Greece 2 
			 Slovakia 1 
			 Sweden 1 
			 Austria 1 
			 Denmark 1 
			 Gibraltar 1 
			 Hungary 1 
			 Italy 1 
			 Malta 1 
			 Total 256 
			 (1) This refers to requests issued to all EU member states because the location of the person is not known 
		
	
	
		
			 Part three EAW requests issued by the UK in 2009-10. 
			 Country Number of part three requests issued by UK 
			 Spain 58 
			 Ireland 39 
			 The Netherlands 31 
			 France 25 
			 Poland 19 
		
	
	
		
			 Cyprus 5 
			 Germany 4 
			 Belgium 3 
			 Italy 3 
			 Romania 3 
			 Greece 2 
			 Hungary 2 
			 Lithuania 2 
			 Portugal 2 
			 Austria 1 
			 Bulgaria 1 
			 Finland 1 
			 Malta 1 
			 Sweden 1 
			 Total 203 
		
	
	
		
			 Part three EAW requests issued by the UK 2004 to 2008-09 
			  Number of  part three r equests issued by UK 
			 2008-09 257 
			 2007-08 182 
			 2006-07 146 
			 1 January 2006 to 31 March 2006 24 
			 2005 131 
			 2004 96

British Nationality: Assessments

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Life in the UK citizenship tests have been sat in each year since 2007; and what the number and proportion was of such tests which were passed in each such year.

Damian Green: Since the test was introduced for Nationality in 2005 and extended to include settlement cases back in early 2007, over a million tests have been delivered.
	
		
			  2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 (1) Total 
			 Total tests taken (Number) 304,905 232,527 186,468 193,461 917,361 
			 Failure rate (Percentage) 29.70 27.90 25.40 27.00 27.50 
			 Pass rate (Percentage) 70.30 72.10 74.60 73.00 72.50 
			 (1) Up to May 2011 Note: These figures do not constitute part of National Statistics as they are based on internal management information. The information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols, should be treated as provisional and is subject to change.)

Civil Disorder

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the recovery of small businesses affected by the public disorder of August 2011; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 8 February 2012
	Insurers have paid out, or made interim payments, to over three-quarters of businesses affected by the riots.
	We are committed to reimbursing police authorities for the compensation they pay out, and it is in their interests to put in claims as swiftly as possible. Our key concern is to ensure that individuals and businesses receive the compensation to which they are entitled, and the majority already have.

Civil Disorder

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with police authorities on compensation for people affected by riots

Nick Herbert: holding answer 22 February 2012
	I have convened meetings with the chairs of affected police authorities together with the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime, Association of Police Authorities and representatives of the insurance industry. Meetings have focussed on ensuring that progress is made with compensation payments to victims of the August disorder.

Databases: Telecommunications

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any legislative proposals in respect of the communications capabilities development programme will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny.

James Brokenshire: As set out in the Home Office's structural reform plan, details of the Government's legislative proposals to preserve the ability of the law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies to obtain communications data within an appropriate legal framework will be announced in Parliament in due course.

Databases: Telecommunications

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she consulted the Information Commissioner on the communications capabilities development programme.

James Brokenshire: Home Office officials have consulted the Information Commissioner on the Communications Capabilities Development programme and continue to work with his team.

Departmental Research

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will place in the Library a copy of the Sixth Defence Scientific Advisory Council Sub-Committee statement on the medical implications of the use of Taser X26 and M26 less lethal systems on children and vulnerable adults and associated Taser matters.

Nick Herbert: The sixth Defence Scientific Advisory Council Sub-Committee statement on the medical implications of the use of Taser has today been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Departmental Senior Civil Servants

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many senior civil servants left her Department and its public bodies in each month since May 2010; what their names are; what the rate of turnover of senior civil servants in her Department was during this period; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: Since May 2010, 70 senior civil servants (SCS) have left the Department and its agencies. A monthly breakdown is shown in the table. The rate of turnover of SCS staff in the period May 2010 to February 2012 was 29.4%, and this represents an overall reduction in SCS numbers in the same period of 10%. Given our obligations under the Data Protection Act we are unable to disclose the names of all of these staff.
	For the Home Office executive non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), this information cannot be provided as to do so would incur disproportionate cost.
	Some information about senior staff in the Home Office and its NDPBs, including names of all staff at SCS Pay 2 level and above and SCS 1 staff where they hold senior positions or their names are already publicly available, is available on the Home Office website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/our-organisation/structure-salary-information/public-bodies-structure-salary/
	The information shown is a snapshot as at 30 June 2010, 31 March 2011 and 30 September 2011.
	
		
			  Number of SCS staff that left 
			 2010  
			 Total 35 
			 May 1 
			 June 2 
			 July 4 
			 August 2 
			 September 2 
			 October 20 
			 November 2 
			 December 2 
			   
			 2011  
			 Total 35 
			 January 2 
			 February 1 
			 March 5 
			 April 10 
			 May 3 
			 June 1 
			 July 4 
			 August 1 
			 September 2 
			 October 1 
			 November 2 
			 December 3 
			   
			 2012  
			 Total 0 
			 January 0

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many checks have been carried out on Tier 4 sponsors in the last three months.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency carries out a range of checks on Tier 4 sponsors, these include: pre-licence verification; post-licence announced and unannounced visits; specific verification linked to sponsors who apply to be highly trusted and intelligence led non compliance investigations. In the three months October to December 2011, the UK Border Agency carried out 725 such checks.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inspections of Tier 4 colleges have been carried out in the last three months.

Damian Green: Alt Tier 4 sponsors have been visited at least twice, once by their accreditation body and once by the UK Border Agency. In 2011, the UK Border Agency carried out approximately 900 inspections. Around half of these inspections were unannounced and approximately a third took place between October and December 2011.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Tier 4 sponsors (a) have been found to be breaking the terms of their licence and (b) had their licences revoked as a result in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Damian Green: Where the UK Border Agency has serious concerns about a sponsor, it will suspend its licence pending further investigation. The total number of sponsors, since the inception of sponsorship, found to be breaking the terms of their licence is approximately 355. The UK Border Agency has revoked approximately 150 of these sponsors in total. In the last year 88 sponsors have had their licence revoked due to non-compliance.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) unannounced and (b) announced inspections were carried out on Tier 4 colleges, in each of the last twelve months.

Damian Green: All Tier 4 sponsors have been visited at least twice, once by their accreditation body and once by the UK Border Agency. In 2011, the UK Border Agency carried out approximately 900 inspections. Approximately half of these inspections were unannounced.
	The data provided above is internal management information derived from 'live' internal operational databases that has not been externally validated; it is therefore provisional and is subject to change. We would not normally consider this to be of publication quality.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Tier 4 colleges have been (a) found to be bogus and (b) closed as a result in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency does not use the term bogus in the context of compliance actions. The UK Border Agency records institutions' accreditation by an approved body, and whether it is compliant with its sponsor duties.
	The UK Border Agency does not have the power to close any education or training provider. It can however revoke the Tier 4 licence of any sponsor found to be non-compliant with its sponsorship duties.

Foreign Nationals: Offenders

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign national offenders who were released since May 2010 have subsequently been (a) arrested, (b) charged and (c) convicted for further offences.

Damian Green: The following table sets out the number of foreign national offenders who were released after being in UK Border Agency detention between May 2010 and May 2011 and have been subsequently (a) arrested, (b)charged and (c) convicted for further offences:
	
		
			  Arrested Charged—on remand Convicted 
			 2010    
			 May 1 0 1 
			 June 7 3 4 
			 July 5 4 1 
			 August 4 3 1 
			 September 3 2 1 
			 October 3 2 1 
			 November 1 1 0 
			 December 0 0 0 
			 2011    
			 January 6 2 4 
			 February 6 1 5 
			 March 5 0 5 
			 April 3 2 1 
			 May 6 3 3 
			 Total 50 23 27 
		
	
	Figures are based on internal management information and are subject to change.
	The UK Border Agency begins consideration of deportation of foreign national offenders (FNOs) 18 months before the end of the sentence, where the sentence length allows. In 2010, 43% of deportations took place in the Early Removal Scheme period of 270 days. Where removal is not possible by the end of sentence, the agency seeks to detain FNOs to protect the public and where there is a risk of absconding.
	However the agency has to operate within the law. It must release foreign offenders when ordered to do so by the courts and release low risk offenders where there is no realistic prospect of removal within a reasonable period of time. Where we believe there is a risk to the public we vigorously oppose bail applications or ask the court to impose reporting conditions and electronic tagging restrictions if bail is granted. When FNOs are released the agency works closely with both the police and the National Offender Management Service to reduce the risk of reoffending. Deportation action continues in all cases.
	Approximately 90% of those released on bail are released by the courts. The remaining 10% are released by the UK Border Agency, having assessed that the risk of harm posed to the public is low and that there is no realistic prospect of removal within a reasonable period of time.

Foreign Nationals: Offenders

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign national offenders due to be removed on release were awaiting removal in (a) May, (b) September and (c) December 2011.

Damian Green: The following table sets out the number of foreign national offenders who have completed their custodial sentence and are awaiting deportation.
	
		
			  Detained Non-detained Total 
			 2011    
			 May 1,461 3,760 5,221 
			 September 1,355 3,906 5,261 
			 December 1,421 3,935 5,356 
		
	
	Figures are based on internal management information and are subject to change.
	The UK Border Agency begins consideration of deportation of foreign national offenders (FNOs) 18 months before the end of sentence, where sentence length allows. In 2010, 43% of deportations took place in the early removal scheme period of 270 days. Where removal is not possible by the end of sentence, the agency seeks to detain FNOs to protect the public and where there is a risk of absconding.
	But the agency has to operate within the law. It must release foreign offenders when ordered to do so by the courts and release low risk offenders where there is no realistic prospect of removal within a reasonable period of time. Where we believe there is a risk to the public we will vigorously oppose bail applications or ask the court to impose reporting and electronic tagging restrictions if bail is granted. When FNOs are released the agency works closely with both the police and the National Offender Management Service to reduce the risk of reoffending. Deportation action continues in all cases.
	Approximately 90% of those released on bail are released by the courts. The remaining 10% are released by the UK Border Agency, having assessed that the risk of harm posed to the public is low and that there is no realistic prospect of removal within a reasonable period of time.
	Deportation can be delayed for many reasons including human rights and other legal challenges, the situation in the offender's home country and lack of co-operation by the offender and his/her home government in getting essential travel documents.

Forensic Science Regulator: Finance

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding her Department allocated to the Forensic Science Regulator in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011; and how much it plans to allocate in 2012.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 27 February 2012
	The budget allocated to the Forensic Science Regulator for the financial years 2009-12 were as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			 2003-09 1,295,500 
			 2009-10 1,278,500 
			 2010-11 1,297,200 
			 2011-12 (1)923,000 
			 2012-13 (2)— 
			 (1) Reduction in allocated funding for 2011-12 represents the salaries of staff who were transferred to Home Office Science shared finance and secretariat support functions, but continue to support the Forensic Science Regulator. (2) To be agreed

Knives: Crime

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidences of knife crime were recorded by the Metropolitan police force in each London borough in each month since May 2008; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 2 February 2012
	The Home Office receives information at a police force area level on offences involving a knife or sharp instrument. We do not receive data relating to individual London boroughs.

Proceeds of Crime

Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total value was of criminal assets (a) frozen and (b) recovered by (i) each police force in England and Wales, (ii) the Serious Organised Crime Agency and (iii) HM Revenue and Customs in (A) each of the last five years and (B) the year to date.

Nick Herbert: The value of frozen criminal assets is not held centrally. Information on the value of criminal assets recovered by each police force in each of the last five years is available in the House Library. Figures for the Serious Organised Crime Agency and HM Revenue and Customs are as follows:
	
		
			 £ 
			  Agency 
			 Total value of criminal assets recovered in: HM Revenue and Customs Serious Organised Crime Agency 
			 2006-07 37,028.857.36 6,030,327.70 
			 2007-08 30.925,975.75 8.363,806.02 
			 2008-09 29,157.014.72 18.081,908.67 
			 2009-10 27,583,852.55 18.432,223.79 
			 2010-11 23.630,083.56 15,926,818.08 
			 2011-12 (y.t.d. September) 13.296,028.50 6,768,859.80

Proceeds of Crime

Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what the total value was of criminal assets that were (a) frozen and (b) recovered in (i) each of the last five years and (ii) the year to date;
	(2)  pursuant to the oral answer of 6 February 2012, Official Report, column 16, on serious and organised crime, what the improved performance has been in relation to the recovery of the proceeds of crime.

Nick Herbert: The value of frozen criminal assets is not held centrally. The value of criminal assets recovered in each of the last five years and the year to date is as follows:
	
		
			 Total value of criminal assets recovered in: £ 
			 2006-07 125,260,000.00 
			 2007-08 135,700,000.00 
			 2008-09 148,000,000.00 
			 2009-10 153,710,000.00 
			 2010-11 157,630,000.00 
			 2011-12 (y.t.d. September) 91,200,000.00

Terrorism: International Cooperation

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of the (a) maintenance and (b) utility of the directory of specialised competences in counter-terrorism among national counter-terrorist agencies established by EU Council Joint Action 96/610/JHA.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 27 February 2012
	This measure seeks to assist EU member states through a shared understanding of their respective specialised counter-terrorism competencies which might be made available to respond to requests for assistance received from other member states. The Government continue to value our working-level cooperation with other EU member states to combat the threat from terrorism, and we continue to review the effectiveness of measures such as this.

HEALTH

Allergies: Children

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to ensure that GPs are aware of the risk of food allergies in children; and what measures are in place to ensure testing occurs.

Paul Burstow: Doctors are responsible for maintaining the clinical knowledge necessary for the area in which they practice. All general practitioners should be aware of the common allergic conditions in children, including food allergies, and should be familiar with the local pathways for testing and diagnosis of the less common allergies. Information is available from various sources including a clinical guideline from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and a set of clinical pathways from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

Allergies: Children

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding and assistance is given to Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust to help children with severe allergies.

Paul Burstow: The information requested is not held centrally.
	The provision of national health services, including diagnosis and treatment of children with severe allergies, is a matter for the NHS locally.

Antenatal Care

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) parents who attend (i) part and (ii) all of the ante-natal and post-natal classes available to them and (b) ante-natal and post-natal classes attended by (A) one parent and (B) both parents.

Paul Burstow: This information is not collected centrally.
	There are many different ways of providing antenatal education from one to one discussions to workshop style groups. A Care Quality Commission survey of women's experiences of maternity services in England in 2010 found that 58% of women had attended national health service antenatal classes during their pregnancy.
	Delivered with care: a smaller survey of women's experiences of maternity care published by the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit in 2010 reported 40.2% of women had attended NHS antenatal classes or workshops. 67% of women who were offered and attended NHS antenatal classes said their partner was welcome to attend with them.
	The Department launched ‘Preparation for Birth and Beyond: a resource pack for leaders of community groups and activities’ in October 2011. The pack is a practical tool, which aims to improve outcomes for babies and parents through a refreshed approach to antenatal education.
	The Department funded ‘Reaching out: Involving Fathers in Maternity Care and Top Tips: Involving Fathers in Maternity Care’, published by the Royal College of Mid wives in November 2011. The Guide provides top tips and useful insight into how all maternity service staff might best encourage fathers' involvement throughout pregnancy and childbirth, and into fatherhood and family life.

Cardiovascular System: Health Services

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had on improving care pathways for cardiac services between district general hospitals and specialist units.

Simon Burns: The Department has had no recent discussions on improving care pathways for cardiac services between district general hospitals and specialist units.
	The Cardiac Networks play an active role, working with both commissioners and providers of cardiac services, in improving care pathways for patients with heart disease and reducing variation in access to services.

Departmental Internet

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what public services his Department delivers online only.

Simon Burns: The Department does not deliver any public services online only.

Departmental Pay

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible are paid (i) £100,000 and (ii) £142,500 or more per annum.

Simon Burns: The information requested is given in the following table:
	
		
			 Organisation How many full-time officials are paid between £100,000 and £142,500 How many officials (part-time) are paid between £100,000 and £142,500 (FTE) How many full-time officials are paid above £142,500 How many officials (part-time) are paid above £142,500 (FTE) 
			 Core Department of Health 32 (1)5 12 (1)5 
			 Connecting for Health 16 10 (1)5 11 
			      
			 Arm’s length bodies     
			 Alcohol Education and Research Council 0 0 0 0 
			 Appointments Commission (1)5 0 0 0 
			 Care Quality Commission 6 (1)5 (1)5 (1)5 
			 Council for Healthcare (1)5 0 0 0 
			 Regulatory Excellence     
			 General Social Care Council (1)5 0 0 0 
			 Health Protection Agency 94 (1)5 30 (1)5 
			 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority 0 0 (1)5 0 
			 Human Tissue Authority (1)5 0 0 0 
			 Monitor 9 (1)5 (1)5 (1)5 
			 (1) Or fewer Notes: 1. FTE is full-time equivalent—proportional for part-time workers. 2. The table includes medically qualified staff, some part time, whose salaries with professional allowances bring them into the above pay ranges.

Diabetes: Chiropody

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer to the right hon. Member for Leicester East of 6 February 2012, Official Report, column 143W, on diabetes: chiropody, if he will request an audit of the implementation of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Guideline 10: the Prevention and Management of Diabetic Foot Complications; how improvement to service provision is being supported by robust audit processes; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: NHS Diabetes are currently undertaking work to improve service provision of foot care for people with diabetes in England, and to pilot the auditing of this provision. There are three aspects to this work:
	Looking at the structure of services. This has already resulted in foot care being included in DiabetesE (a web-based service improvement tool that supports implementation of the NICE Quality Standard for Diabetes);
	Piloting the auditing of foot ulcer management; and
	Diabetes foot care activity profiles.
	Audit data on the management of foot ulcers are being tested in 20 pilot sites. Data collection started in September 2011 on all new cases of diabetic foot ulceration for a period of three months. Information on when the ulcer is healed or the outcome at 12 months (whichever is soonest) will also be collected. An analysis of the baseline characteristics will be presented at the Diabetes UK annual professional conference in March 2012. The National Diabetes Audit 2013 will be expanded to include further measures relating to foot care resulting from the findings of these projects.
	The diabetes foot care activity profiles have been developed to provide information on the in-patient care of people with diabetes who are admitted to hospital for a range of foot care conditions. They are designed to allow those involved in the provision of this care to appreciate the scale of activity and relate this to similar trusts across England. The data used are from the Hospital Episode Statistics database and cover all episodes of in-patient care between April 2007 to 31 March 2010 (published August 2011) and April 2008 to March 2011 (published January 2012). A diabetes foot care profile is available for every primary pare trust in England.
	NHS Diabetes has also launched national and regional foot care networks to bring together best practice such as integrated foot care services, up-to-date guidance and tools. NHS Diabetes has produced a commissioning guide for foot care that includes an intervention map detailing all of the elements needed for the service and a service specification template.

Diabetes: Orthopaedics

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Leicester East of 6 February 2012, Official Report, column 143W, on diabetes: orthopaedics, what assessment he has made of the variation in the incidence of (a) minor and (b) major amputations per 1,000 population across primary care trusts; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce such variation in incidence.

Paul Burstow: Unwarranted variation in amputation rates of people with diabetes across the country is unacceptable. It is estimated that with the right care 80% of amputations carried out on patients suffering from diabetes would be preventable.
	Decisions about the most appropriate therapeutic treatment for an individual patient are a matter for the local national health service. But through publishing more data like that in the National Diabetes Audit, the Department aims to help commissioners and providers identify where improvements need to be made. It is important that clinicians also review their own data to make improvements to the care that they provide to reduce variation.

Health Services: Ex-servicemen

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on monitoring the health and wellbeing of returning veterans in each of the last 10 years.

Simon Burns: There are no current plans for a specific project of this nature. However, officials at the Department are currently working hard to deliver on the implementation of two key reports whose joint aim is to significantly improve the health and wellbeing of returning veterans. These are Dr. Andrew Murrison's reports into both mental health, and prosthetics care for veterans. There is a budget of £22 million available to deliver against these reports. The development of a “Veterans' Information Service” (VIS) will form part of the Veterans' Mental Health recommendations. One of the aims of the VIS is to follow veterans up 12 months after they leave the service, as we are aware that both the mental and physical wellbeing of service personnel can be at risk in the months after they first discharge.

Hospices

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the newest hospice was built.

Paul Burstow: We do not hold this information.

Hospices

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much of his £40 million of capital funding for hospices in 2010-11 has been spent;
	(2)  which hospices have benefited from his £40 million of capital funding for hospices in 2010-11; and where such hospices are located;
	(3)  what plans he has to allow potential new hospices to bid for capital funds available to current hospices.

Paul Burstow: The recipients of the 2010-11 £40 million hospice capital grant scheme, and their location, are included as an annex of the “End of Life Care Strategy Third Annual Report”. A copy has already been place in the Library and is available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_130239
	Of the £40 million made available, hospices spent £39,985,299 to improve the physical environment.
	There are currently no departmental capital funding schemes available for which hospices are able to bid to improve existing facilities or which could be used to build new facilities.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations have been cancelled by hospitals in (a) Nottinghamshire and (b) England in the last 12 months.

Simon Burns: Data on the numbers of elective operations cancelled at the last minute for non-clinical reasons between Quarter 4 of 2010-11 and Quarter 3 of 201i-12 for acute NHS trusts in Nottinghamshire are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Number of last minute cancelled operations for non clinical reasons, Nottinghamshire and England, Quarter 4 2010-11 to Quarter 3 2011-12 
			  Number 
			 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 350 
			 Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust 1,385 
			 Nottinghamshire Total 1,735 
			 England 56,510 
			 Source: Department of Health dataset QMCO

IVF: Leeds

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure sufficient provision of NHS-funded in-vitro fertilisation treatment in Leeds.

Paul Burstow: The national health service decides locally on the funding of fertility treatment, such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), based on the health priorities of local populations. David Flory, deputy chief executive of the NHS, wrote to primary care trusts in 2011, reminding commissioners of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines, including the recommendation that up to three cycles of IVF are offered to eligible couples. A copy of the letter has already been placed in the Library.

McKinsey and Company

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the contribution by the Secretary of State for Health of 22 February 2012, Official Report, column 909, on McKinsey and Company, what access to (a) the Transition Risk Register and (b) any of its constituent parts has been given to staff of McKinsey and Company.

Simon Burns: The Department is not aware of McKinsey and Company having had any access to the Transition Risk Register.

Medical Treatments

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the effect of a patient's level of optimism on their ability to fight (a) infectious and (b) cardiovascular diseases.

Simon Burns: The Department has not undertaken any assessment of the effect of a patient's level of optimism on their ability to fight infectious diseases.
	Various studies highlight the benefits of reducing patients' pessimistic attitudes and increasing their optimism towards their recovery from cardiovascular disease. However, there has been no assessment of how conclusive these studies are and the types of interventions that might be put in place to help all patients have a more positive attitude towards their cardiovascular health.

Mental Health Services: Per Capita Costs

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much each primary care trust spent on mental health per head in each of the last five years.

Paul Burstow: Information on mental health spend has been placed in the Library.

Neurology

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people with (a) Parkinson's disease, (b) multiple sclerosis, (c) epilepsy, (d) muscular dystrophy and (e) motor neurone disease died from (i) their condition and (ii) symptoms associated with their condition in each primary care trust area in each of the last five years.

Paul Burstow: The Department has made no analysis of the number of people dying in each primary care trust from the specific neurological conditions mentioned.

NHS: Reorganisation

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the financial cost to his Department was of the appeal against the Information Commissioner's ruling on 2 November 2011.

Simon Burns: The cost to the Department of officials' time for work on the appeal is not broken down, as this forms part of their overall duties as civil servants.
	The Department receives legal services through a block Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The costs of Government lawyers working on the appeal are part of the block SLA payment made by the Department to DWP. Costs of individual projects are not charged to the Department.
	The costs of external Counsel cover the costs of appealing against two decisions of the Information Commissioner made on 1 and 2 November 2011, relating to the Strategic and Transition risk registers respectively; both cases will be heard together by the Tribunal.
	To date, the amount billed to the Department by external Counsel is £24,630 (including VAT). It is estimated that the total costs of external Counsel in relation to the two appeals, including the two-day hearing on 5 and 6 March, will be just over £40,000 (including VAT).

NHS: Reorganisation

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of the National Health Service Transition Programme on the morale of NHS staff; what representations he has received on this matter; and from whom such representation was received.

Simon Burns: The annual NHS staff survey is used to monitor and benchmark the experiences of staff working for the NHS and provides an indication of morale. The 2010 survey is the most recent available, and demonstrates that against a background of significant change, NHS staff remain committed to delivering the best possible standard of care for their patients.
	The Department's ministerial correspondence database does not have a specific keyword to index correspondence concerning morale among NHS staff. Providing a figure with regard to the number of items of correspondence received about the effect of the National Health Service Transition Programme on the morale of NHS staff would incur disproportionate cost. This represents correspondence processed by the Department's central correspondence team only.

Obesity: Bexleyheath

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to help tackle obesity in (a) adults and (b) children in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency.

Paul Burstow: Measures to tackle obesity at the local level are a matter for prioritisation by local national health. service organisations, the Government have published “Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A call to action on obesity in England”. This sets out how obesity will be tackled in the new public health and NHS systems, and the role of key partners.
	The “Call to action” sets out a new national ambition to create a downward trend in excess weight in children and adults by 2020. Localism is at the heart of the new approach and local leadership will be important in preventing and tackling obesity. There will be a new ring-fenced public health budget for local areas, and continued investment in key programmes such as Change4Life.

Organs: Donors

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the shortfall in organ donations to meet demand for transplantation;
	(2)  what steps he plans to take to increase the proportion of potential organ donors who become actual donors.

Simon Burns: Despite the considerable progress made over the last few years, there is still a shortage of organs donated for transplant. Around 10,000 people are listed on the United Kingdom transplant waiting list and around three people die every day waiting for an organ to become available. The situation is even more serious for people from African-Caribbean and Asian backgrounds as they are three to five times more likely to need a kidney transplant than white people. We have a number of initiatives to encourage more people to support donation with specific initiatives within the black and minority ethnic populations such as working with faith organisations, local radio stations or organisations like the African-Caribbean Leukaemia Trust.
	People may sign up to the Organ Donor Register when they register with a new general practitioner; when applying for a new passport; when applying for a European Health Insurance Card, a Boots advantage card or a driving licence. NHS Blood and Transplant also publicises the need for more people to register as donors through public awareness campaigns, on their organ donation website and on their national helpline. There are now over 200 highly trained Specialist Nurses for Organ Donation based in hospitals across the country and NHS Blood and Transplant is continuing to train and recruit more staff into this vital role. Clinical Leads for Organ Donation have been appointed in every acute hospital working closely with hospital Organ Donation Committees to increase donation rates.
	A Transitional Steering Group (TSG), chaired by Chris Rudge, has also been established to help maintain the momentum. The TSG will be focusing on the six big wins—optimising deceased donation rates through undertaking brainstem death testing and considering donation after cardiac death in all appropriate circumstances, increasing consent rates, increasing donation from emergency medicine, timely referral of donors and better donor management.

Organs: Donors

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were registered as organ donors in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: The current number of people on the Organ Donor Register is 18,617,022 as of 24 February 2012.

Physiotherapy: Greater London

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of (a) changes in numbers of physiotherapy training places in London and (b) the closure of physiotherapy courses at the University of East London and South Bank University on the ability of the NHS to meet future demand for physiotherapy services; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: It is the responsibility of strategic heath authorities (SHAs) to plan their commissions based on local work force requirements.
	The numbers of physiotherapy training commissions from 2006-07 to 2012-13, both for NHS London and nationally, are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Physiotherapy training commissions 
			  Actual commissions Planned commissions 
			  2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 NHS London 355 368 349 343 315 261 228 
			 National 2,193 2,038 1,814 1,805 1,714 1,508 1,471 
		
	
	While the intake into training places is important, SHAs have indicated that the reductions in training commissions reflect a number of factors, including increased retention of non-medical trainees and an increase in the number of people returning to training. Therefore, a similar output of qualified physiotherapists should be achieved, even though there are fewer training commissions.
	NHS London have tendered for their physiotherapy training programmes starting in 2012-13. Higher education institutions were informed of the results of these bids in January 2012. The detail is confidential until the contracts are signed off, which is expected to be in March 2012.
	NHS London have reviewed the level of commissions in the light of expected future demand for physiotherapists, taking into account factors such as attrition, retirement and clinical experts views on quality of education. While a degree of oversupply is desirable to allow for unforeseen changes in the future, NHS London believes that reductions in commissions are required to avoid large numbers of nurses and physiotherapists being unable to find employment.

Primary Health Care

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the likely proportion of primary health care commissioning being undertaken by (a) public sector employees directly employed by the state and (b) private sector employees under contract to primary health care commissioners for the year 2015-16; and what estimate he has made of future trends in this area.

Simon Burns: No such estimate has been made.
	Subject to the passage of legislation, the commissioning of primary care services will be the responsibility of the NHS Commissioning Board (NHSCB) from April 2013. The NHSCB Authority, established on 31 October 2011, is leading the preparatory work for the NHSCB and developing proposals for how its functions could be discharged, including those for primary care commissioning and primary care support services such as general practitioner payments and patient registration (often known as FHS services).
	In documents published for its board meeting on 2 February the NHSCB Authority was clear that staff in the 50 local offices of the NHSCB will include those involved in primary care commissioning. The cost of FHS services will also be the responsibility of these local office teams.
	At the moment primary care trusts discharge FHS services through a number of different models which include in-house arrangements and outsourcing—both within and outside of the national health service.
	The precise arrangements as to how these functions will be discharged in the future to secure high quality primary care services will, be for the NHSCB to determine. However they are discharged, the NHSCB will remain accountable for all commissioning decisions.

Prostate Cancer

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to improve survival rates for men with advanced prostate cancer; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: In 2008, the National institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published the clinical guideline ‘Prostate cancer: diagnosis and treatment’. This sets out recommendations on the tests, treatment, care and support that men who have suspected or diagnosed prostate cancer should be offered, including those men who have advanced prostate cancer. To ensure that these recommendations continue to reflect the latest available evidence, NICE is currently updating this guideline.

Prostate Cancer: Drugs

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the draft guidance published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence proposing to refuse approval of the use of abiraterone for patients in England and Wales, and of the effect any such refusal might have on men with advanced prostate cancer and their families;

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the use of cancer drugs for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer in advance of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance on the issue.

Paul Burstow: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently appraising abiraterone (Zytiga) for two separate indications. NICE is an independent body and has not yet issued final guidance to the national health service on either indication.
	The Department, as a registered stakeholder, has responded to NICE'S consultation on its draft guidance on the use of abiraterone for castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer previously treated with a docetaxel-containing regimen.
	We have received a number of representations from hon. Members, members of the public and industry with regard to this appraisal.

Transplant Surgery

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were awaiting transplantation surgery requiring (a) lungs, (b) a pancreas, (c) a heart, (d) kidneys and (e) a liver in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: The information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		
			 Active transplant list 
			  Current at 23 February 2012 
			  Total Paediatric <18 years 
			 Kidney 6,483 88 
			 Pancreas 39 1 
			 Kidney/pancreas 193 0 
			 Pancreas islets 22 0 
			 Heart 160 19 
			 Lung 213 17 
			 Heart/lung 14 2 
			 Liver 487 38 
			 Other (multi-organ) 48 8 
			 Total 7,659 173 
			 Note: These figures are subject to change as information is updated. Source: NHS Blood and Transplant

TREASURY

Banks: Loans

Alun Cairns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information his Department holds on the (a) number and (b) proportion of successful appeals made to banks under the banking lending independent appeals process.

Mark Hoban: The first report by Russell Griggs, the independent reviewer of the appeals process, will be published in April.

Child Tax Credit

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many people received child tax credit over-payments in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since the inception of tax credits;
	(2)  how many people were in receipt of working tax credit payments in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since the inception of tax credits;
	(3)  how many people were in receipt of child tax credit payments in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since the inception of tax credits.

David Gauke: The answer to these questions can be found in the Finalised Award Statistics (annual view after finalisation) Geographical Statistics (National Statistics) available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/final-award-geog.htm
	The average number of claimants of working tax credit and child tax credit can be found in the publication ‘Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics Finalised annual awards. Geographical analyses’. For 2009-10, the latest year for which finalised data are available, the publication is at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-final-awards-may11.pdf
	For each year, Table 2 has total number of claimants for child tax credit and working tax credit by local authority. Table 3 has this information by Westminster parliamentary constituency, and both tables have this for the UK and the north-east.
	Information on over-payments just for child tax credit would be available only at disproportionate cost; however information on tax credits over-payments can be found in the publication: ‘Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Finalised Annual Awards. Supplement on payments. Geographical analyses’. For 2009-10 this is at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-final-awards-supp-may11.pdf
	As previously, for each year Table 3 has information on number of families with over-payments by Westminster parliamentary constituency. Table 2 has this information by local authority, and both tables have figures for the north-east and the UK.

Departmental Internet

Helen Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what public services his Department delivers online only.

Chloe Smith: HM Treasury does not deliver any public services online only.

Income Tax: Gillingham

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many people in Gillingham and Rainham constituency pay income tax at (a) 20 per cent., (b) 40 per cent. and (c) 50 per cent;
	(2)  what the revenue raised from (a) income tax and (b) national insurance contributions was in Gillingham and Rainham constituency in the tax years (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11.

David Gauke: Estimates of the number of taxpayers in the then Gillingham constituency in 2007-08, the latest year for which detailed survey data are available, are provided in the following table, categorised by their highest marginal tax rate.
	
		
			 Parliamentary constituency of Gillingham 2007-08 
			 Marginal tax rate Number of taxpayers (thousand) 
			 Staffing rate 7 
			 Basic rate 44 
			 Higher rate 6 
			 All taxpayers 56 
			 Note: Components may not sum to total due to rounding. Source: Survey of Personal Incomes, 2007-08 
		
	
	Total tax liabilities for the Gillingham constituency are estimated at £222 million in 2007-08.
	Estimates of national insurance contributions by parliamentary constituency are not available.
	Projections of taxpayer numbers by marginal rate to 2011-12 are available for the UK and each Government Office Region on the HMRC website in tables 2.1 and 2.2, at the following addresses:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/table2-1.pdf
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/table2-2.pdf
	Projections of taxpayer numbers and their liabilities are not available at lower levels of geography, due to greater uncertainties in making projections for small geographical areas and small sample sizes.

Income Tax: National Insurance

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had on (a) the alignment of national insurance contributions with income tax and (b) the removal of the upper earnings limit cap on national insurance contributions.

David Gauke: The Government are currently working on options for integrating income tax and national insurance contributions. Budget 2012 will give an update. The Government have no plans to remove the upper earnings limit cap on national insurance contributions.

Revenue and Customs: Closures

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much he has allocated to the support of staff affected by redundancy at HM Revenue and Customs in each year between 2012 and 2014;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to support staff affected by the closure of HM Revenue and Customs offices between 2012 and 2014.

David Gauke: By 2015 HMRC will be operating with 10,000 fewer full-time equivalent posts than in April 2011. HMRC is confident that in the main this reduction can be achieved through natural wastage and through the redeployment of those in need of new roles into other essential work, particularly .into new roles in compliance arising from the £917 million spending review reinvestment to reduce the tax gap. HMRC has no plans for compulsory redundancies and will avoid these as far as it possibly can.
	Reduced staffing levels will mean a reduced need for accommodation and HMRC is nearing completion of the office closure plans that will take the Department right through to 2015. HMRC's work around these plans indicates that the vast majority of staff affected by closures are likely to be within reasonable travel of another office and the expectation remains that when an office closes the staff based there will relocate to another HMRC site. As part of the decision making process staff will have the opportunity to discuss how their personal circumstances affect their ability to move in one-to-one discussions with their managers. HMRC will support individuals unable to relocate by exploring all available options with them and financial support in the form of daily travel assistance will be considered for those who face increased travelling costs as the result of the move.

Tax Avoidance: Ghana

Nick Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reports he has received on the use of Ghana as a location for tax avoidance schemes.

David Gauke: Treasury Ministers receive advice from HM Treasury and HMRC on a range of tax policy issues and are aware of tax repayment claims based on arrangements involving Ghanaian teak farming. HMRC is currently investigating claims relying on these arrangements.

Taxation: Aviation

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what recent estimate he has made of the revenue which would accrue to the Exchequer if (a) fuel duty was levied on (i) international and (ii) internal journeys by air and (b) value added tax was levied on the full value of air tickets;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the revenue which would accrue to the Exchequer if (a) air passenger duty was replaced with a tax levied at 20 per cent. on airline tickets for flights departing from UK airports and (b) aviation fuel was subject to duty at the same rate as petrol for cars.

Chloe Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for East Surrey (Mr Gyimah) on 12 September 2011, Official Report, column 1041W.
	Aviation turbine fuel used in private pleasure flying in turbine powered aircraft is subject to duty at the same rate as road diesel at 57.95p per litre. Aviation gasoline used in piston powered aircraft is subject to duty at 37.70p per litre. Other uses of aviation fuel in the UK do not attract duty. VAT at 20% is applicable to retail sales of aviation fuel used for commercial flights within the UK and private pleasure flying. Tax receipts from these sources are not disaggregated from reported totals.

Taxation: Self-assessment

David Morris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to assist people living in rural constituencies without access to the internet who are required to submit a self-assessment tax return online; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: There is no requirement for taxpayers to file their income tax self-assessment tax return online.
	Taxpayers who do not wish to or have difficulty in filing their income tax self-assessment return online have the option to file a paper return by 31 October following the end of the tax year concerned.

Taxation: Self-assessment

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to simplify the self-assessment tax form.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs is committed to improving taxpayer experience by continually reviewing its products and processes. This includes the usability and contents of the self-assessment tax return.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Coastal Communities Fund

Therese Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what methodology his Department used to determine the amount of funding for each coastal constituency in the Coastal Communities Fund.

Grant Shapps: The amount of money made available to each country of the UK under the Coastal Communities Fund is equivalent to 50% of the gross revenues raised by the Crown Estate's marine activities in that area. For 2012, the funding is based on the Crown Estate's marine revenues in 2010-11. This will make available £23.7 million (50% of £47.4 million revenue raised) to support economic development in coastal communities in the UK and will be split between each country as follows:
	
		
			 £ million 
			 2010-11 Total Crown Estate marine revenues 50% of Crown Estate marine revenues 
			 England 36.4 18.2 
			    
		
	
	
		
			 Scotland   
			 Highlands and Islands 3.7 1.85 
			 Rest of Scotland 4.1 2.05 
			    
			 Wales 2.3 1.15 
			 N. Ireland 0.9 0.45 
			 Total 47.4 23.7 
		
	
	At a local or constituency level, however, the Fund will operate on a competitive bid led basis. It will be open to any coastal community that can meet the eligibility criteria set out in the prospectus my Department launched on 9 February to apply for a grant, regardless of the level of marine revenues raised by the Crown Estate in that locality.

Departmental Food

Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of food purchased by his Department was produced in the UK in each of the last five years.

Bob Neill: In the last two years the proportion of food purchased by the Department that was produced in the UK was as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year Percentage UK  p roduce 
			 2010-11 57 
			 2009-10 56 
		
	
	The information requested for earlier years was published by DEFRA in three annual reports on food procurement which covered the period April 2006 to March 2009. The final one of this series is available at:
	http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/policy/publicsectorfood/documents/100226-food-proc-initiative.pdf
	These reports include an estimate of the proportion of domestically produced food procured for Government Departments and also supplied to hospitals and prisons under contracts negotiated by NHS Supply Chain and the National Offended Management Service. A summary of all three years is on page four of this document.
	These reports were laid in the Library of the House.
	These figures were supplied by our facilities management supplier and relate to in-house catering.
	The DEFRA document quotes the following figures for DCLG for earlier years:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			 2008-09 57.5 
			 2007-08 65 
			 2006-07 59 
		
	
	The Department's caterers are contracted to comply with Government buying standards for food with regard to food purchase and provision and we are working to increase the volume of food procured from the UK.

Departmental Internet

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what public services his Department delivers online only.

Bob Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not deliver any public services online only.

Departmental Procurement

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent procuring products and services in 2010-11.

Bob Neill: We have interpreted this question to include all 3rd party expenditure including rents and rates for instance. Departmental records show a total of £222.6 million expenditure on products and services in financial year 2010-11.
	All spending over £500 is published on my Department's website as part of our transparency agenda.

Departmental Procurement

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what proportion of the total value of contracts issued or to be issued by his Department in 2011-12 have required successful organisations to put up a capital bond; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  which contracts his Department has tendered or will tender in 2011-12 which require successful organisations to have a capital bond of more than £5 million; which contracts have not required such a bond; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: The Department has interpreted capital bonds to mean surety bonds, such as Performance Bonds.
	The Department has not issued and has no plans to issue capital or performance bonds in respect of contracts tendered or planned to be tendered in 2011-12. Due to the nature of procurements undertaken by the Department it is not foreseen that these instruments would be required.

Departmental Regulation

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent progress his Department has made on the Red Tape Challenge; and which regulations have been (a) abolished and (b) revised as part of the Challenge.

Bob Neill: To date, of over 1,200 regulations considered so far under Red Tape Challenge, the Government have agreed to scrap or substantially overhaul well over 50%. As a result of the Red Tape Challenge, DCLG has so far announced deregulatory plans, as part of the Hospitality, Food and Drink theme, to relax the requirements on energy performance certificates in holiday lets.
	The DCLG Housing and Construction theme is currently going through the Red Tape Challenge process. We have invited the public, business and the voluntary and community sector to give us their views on how to reduce unnecessary and disproportionate red tape in the housing and construction sector. We have not yet made any firm decisions on what regulations will be abolished. Ministers will consider the public comments and whether there is a robust case for each regulation to either be abolished or revised.
	The 123 Red Tape Challenge reforms made, or about to be made, so far across all Departments are set out in the Government's latest Statement of New Regulation published on 28 February 2012. Many further changes will be announced and implemented in the coming months. So far 15 themes have appeared on the Red Tape Challenge website. Five have gone through a rigorous decision making process (Retail; Hospitality, Food and Drink; Employment Related Law; Manufacturing; Road Transport). The Government have also announced deregulatory plans in health and safety, following the Löfstedt report, with more to follow through Red Tape Challenge.

Departmental Travel

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 January 2012, Official Report, column 31WS, on cost of ministerial cars, whether his Department has any other arrangements for ministerial travel; and how much his Department has spent on (a) private hire vehicles and (b) taxis for each Minister since May 2010.

Bob Neill: This Government have taken a series of steps to reduce the cost of ministerial travel. Departmental spend with the Government Car and Despatch Agency has been reduced from £488,276 from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010, to £268,953 from 13 May 2010 to 31 March 2011, and the number of allocated cars been reduced from six to one.
	Use of a Hackney Carriage taxi is often cheaper than using the pool car arrangements provided by the Government Car Service. From 13 May 2010 to the end of January 2012, total expenditure by ministerial offices on taxis was £3,029 over the 21 month period. This figure includes travel by staff within ministerial offices—it is not a figure solely for travel by Ministers.
	Ministers have made occasional use of private hire vehicles when making visits to different parts of the country: total expenditure on such vehicles for the period in question is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Electoral Register

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what role (a) district auditors and (b) the local government ombudsman have in relation to complaints of maladministration in local authority electoral registration services.

Bob Neill: The local government ombudsman's role is to investigate complaints from members of the public who consider they have suffered injustice arising from maladministration, including on electoral registration services by local authorities. The ombudsman may make recommendations about redress.
	The district auditor would have no role in relation to a maladministration complaint, unless there could be issues of impropriety, or irregularity, or illegality, in the use of resources.

Email

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will take steps to encourage the use of e-mail in preference to printed correspondence for communications between his Department and hon. Members.

Bob Neill: The Department will want to consider this issue in the light of the views of hon. and right hon. Members and having taken account of previous and existing experiments of the use of e-mail in preference to printed correspondence

Environment Protection: Planning Permission

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to give guidance to local planning authorities on the National Ecosystems Assessment.

Bob Neill: In our consultation on the draft National Planning Policy Framework we asked for views about supporting guidance and who could provide it. We are carefully considering all of the submissions that have been made to the consultation and will consider what relevant guidance will be required.

Fire Services

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to encourage more people to sign up to become on-call retained firefighters.

Bob Neill: The Department greatly values the retained firefighter duty system, which provides flexible, cost-effective and locally based fire and rescue cover. However, responsibility for the recruitment and deployment of retained duty system firefighters rests with individual fire and rescue authorities. Each fire and rescue authority is responsible for assessing through its integrated risk management planning process the number of firefighters on both whole-time and retained duty systems, required to provide an effective fire and rescue service in its area.
	My Department continues to work with fire and rescue authorities to raise awareness of the retained duty system, to aid this it has produced the Retained Duty System Employers' Information Toolkit to support fire and rescue authorities in engaging with local employers in raising awareness about the duty system, and encouraging their support to release staff to become retained duty firefighters. The Department has also produced the Recognition Scheme for Primary Employers of Retained Duty System (On-Call) Firefighters, to recognise employers who have agreed to make staff available for retained duty system service.
	As well as the above, the Department also maintains regular dialogue with the representative bodies on retained duty system issues.

Fire Services: Pensions

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the findings of (a) the report entitled Pension Schemes in the Fire Service and the Independent Public Service Pensions Commission by Tony Cutler and Barbara Waine, (b) a report on the impact of the Governments' proposals for members of the firefighters' pension scheme and the new firefighters' pension scheme by First Actuarial consultants, (c) a scoping study: Review of ageing and the demands on firefighting by Richard Graveling and Joanne Crawford on behalf of the Institute of Occupational Medicine and (d) the report entitled Fitness for Work: Estimate of the deterioration of the aerobic fitness of firefighters with age by Richard Graveling on behalf of the Institute of Occupational Medicine. [R]

Bob Neill: Each of the reports referred to were commissioned by the Fire Brigades Union as part of the detailed discussions around setting the cost ceiling for, and undertaking further discussions on, reforms to firefighter pensions. I am grateful for the continued dialogue with the Fire Brigades Union and all of the firefighter unions to discussions on pension reforms, and for providing the evidence in the reports which, I can confirm, have been fully considered by the Government.
	On 9 February, I updated the House on the Heads of Agreement that has now been reached on proposed reforms to the firefighters' pension schemes, a copy of which was deposited in the Library of the House. The proposals will ensure that firefighters continue to have access to good quality pensions that are sustainable, fair and effective.
	The design parameters provide for 10 years of transitional protection, so that those closest to retirement will see no change in when they can retire, nor any decrease in the amount of pension they receive at their normal pension age. There will also be a further four years of tapered protection, and a final salary link for all benefits earned under final salary arrangements. The proposed new scheme provides for a defined benefit career average scheme with a generous accrual rate of 1/58.7ths based on in-service revaluation of average weekly earnings. There will also be flexible retirement from age 55, built around a normal pension age of 60, with enhanced retirement arrangements for active scheme members who are age 57 and over.

Fire Services: Standards

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of fire service response times, from time of call to time of first attendance, were of a duration of (a) up to five minutes, (b) six to 10 minutes, (c) 11 to 15 minutes and (d) over 15 minutes for each fire and rescue service in each year since 2000. [R]

Bob Neill: The information requested is not readily available. However, it is intended that analysis of response time data, including the information requested, will be included in the Fire Statistics Monitor which is to be published by July. This will include data up to 31 March 2012.

Homelessness: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what recent estimate he has made of the cost of providing temporary accommodation to homeless people in (a) the London Borough of Bexley and (b) London in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many people in (a) the London Borough of Bexley and (b) London presented as homeless in the last five years.

Grant Shapps: The following table shows the total number of decisions about households presenting as homeless (i.e. those applying for assistance under the 1985 and 1996 Housing Acts) made by: (a) the London borough of Bexley and (b) all London boroughs and the City of London in the last five financial years. This comprises: (i) all eligible households found to be in priority need and unintentionally homeless (acceptances); (ii) those in priority need but intentionally homeless; (iii) those not in priority need and (iv) those found to be not homeless.
	
		
			 Total number of decisions made by (a) London borough of Bexley (b) all London boroughs and the City of London under the 1985 and 1996 Housing Act on applications from eligible households, for the last five financial years 
			  Total decisions 
			  London borough of Bexley London 
			 2006-07 850 33,450 
			 2007-08 579 29,000 
			 2008-09 423 27,290 
			 2009-10 261 23,150 
			 2010-11 519 25,310 
			 Source: Quarterly P1E returns 
		
	
	Information about English local housing authorities' actions under the homelessness legislation (Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) is collected quarterly at local authority level. Data are published in the quarterly Statistical Release on Statutory Homelessness, and are available in the Library of the House or via the DCLG website:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/homelessnessstatistics/publicationshomelessness/
	I recently announced allocations of £18.6 million to local authorities so they can better tackle single homelessness and bear down on rough sleeping. This extra funding will help councils to ensure that nobody is turned away without clear and useful advice when they are most in need. This comes on top of the existing £400 million homelessness grant this Government have protected.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government collects and publishes detailed breakdown of outturn local authority revenue expenditure on housing services including homelessness and temporary accommodation since 2005-06. This information can be found on the Department's website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/localregional/localgovernmentfinance/statistics/revenueexpenditure/

Housing: Repairs and Maintenance

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people (a) applied for and (b) were awarded home repairs assistance in England in financial years (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11.

Andrew Stunell: Data are collected on private sector renewal assistance via the Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix. This includes all assistance (grants and loans) to private sector dwelling stock (including housing associations) for repairs, improvements and adaptation under the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002 and the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996.
	The dataset is published annually at the following link:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/localauthorityhousing/dataforms/
	Summary information about renewal grants are published in the table at the following link:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/2039604.xls
	In 2009-10, 127,070 grants were paid by local authorities to households for renewal assistance. A further 4,860 loans were paid by local authorities or by third parties sponsored by local authorities.
	In 2010-11, 124,490 grants were paid to households for renewal assistance. A further 5,070 loans were paid.
	These figures relate to grants and loans completed during the financial year. Information is not collected on the number of grants and loans that have been applied for. Information on the actual number of households receiving assistance is not collected.

Local Authorities

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will take steps to force local authorities to divest themselves of assets which are not necessary for their core functions; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: It is for local authorities to decide how to make best use of their assets, including the relative benefits and costs of holding assets, and the disposal of under-utilised assets. They are best placed to know what is most appropriate for their local area in a way that central Government cannot.
	We have been working with a number of local authorities to look at all public land and buildings in their area which has shown potential 20% savings, significant opportunities for growth and improved outcomes for residents.

Local Authorities: Airports

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he considers it appropriate that local authorities should own or hold an interest in an airport; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: It is for a local authority to be satisfied that it has the power to undertake any specific activities. This would include the ownership or holding of an interest in an airport. The Airports Act 1986 made provision for the establishment of Public Airport Companies. This is a company that carries out the business of operating an airport as a commercial undertaking, which is either a subsidiary of a single principal council or a subsidiary of two or more such councils.

Planning Permission: Travellers

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effect of new planning guidance on travelling showpeople's sites on appeals lodged before the new guidance comes into force; and whether such an appeal against a planning decision will be judged against the guidance that was in force at the time the application was made.

Bob Neill: Our draft planning policy for Traveller sites was published for consultation last year and we are currently considering all the responses.
	In the meantime, decision-makers are entitled to have regard to the fact that it is proposed to withdraw the circulars and replace them with the Government's draft new policy.
	When a planning inspector makes a decision they will take into account all the evidence before them at the time the decision is made, including national planning policy that is extant at that time.
	We intend to publish our new policy as soon as possible.

Planning Permission: Wind Power

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many planning appeals in respect of wind turbines were considered by the Planning Inspectorate in each planning category for each of the last five years; and what proportion of such appeals in each category were (a) upheld and (b) dismissed.

Bob Neill: The following table shows the number of planning appeals in respect of wind turbines in each category, the percentage allowed and upheld for each of the last five years. Within these figures are a number of appeals for turbines on individual dwellings.
	
		
			 Decision year Procedure Allowed %  allowed Upheld % upheld Total 
			 2007 WR 25 44 32 56 57 
			  IH 0 — 2 100 2 
			  LI 0 — 4 100 4 
			        
			 2008 WR 14 39 22 61 36 
			  IH 4 100 — — 4 
			  LI 3 38 5 63 8 
			        
			 2009 WR 26 50 26 50 52 
			  IH 5 56 4 44 9 
		
	
	
		
			  LI 9 60 6 40 15 
			        
			 2010 WR 32 56 25 44 57 
			  IH 0 — 3 100 3 
			  LI 14 48 15 52 29 
			        
			 2011 WR 45 60 30 40 75 
			  IH 4 36 7 64 11 
			  LI 11 61 7 39 18 
			 WR = Written Representations IH = Informal Hearing LI = Local Inquiry

Private Rented Housing

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effects of buy-to-let mortgages on the size of the private rented sector.

Andrew Stunell: Based on data drawn from the English Housing Survey for 2010-11 and the latest figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders, we estimate that buy-to-let mortgages currently support some 39% of private rented sector stock. The Government's Housing Strategy outlines our support for a thriving private rented sector, as well as taking a series of measures to build more affordable homes and support home ownership.

Recycling: Shropshire

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what advice and assistance he is giving to Shropshire council to help them to collect and recycle cardboard.

Bob Neill: My Department published a detailed prospectus for the Weekly Collection Support Scheme on 3 February. The fund, worth up to £250 million, will support local authorities like Shropshire to deliver better weekly collections of household waste and recycling.
	We are inviting expressions of interest by 16 March from English local authorities, like Shropshire, that will deliver weekly collection, environmental benefits, and cost-effectiveness. We look forward to receiving a range of innovative bids that promote investment in infrastructure, champion joint working and better procurement, and reward householders for recycling more.

Social Rented Housing: Finance

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what payments have been made from the public purse to each (a) housing association and (b) social housing provider in each of the last five years; and for what purpose the funding was provided.

Grant Shapps: This Government wants to create a new era of accountability and openness. We are therefore committed to publishing details of any new tenders for contracts, new contracts over £10,000 and spending data involving all transactions of over £500. This threshold of over £500 is a lower threshold than that required by HM Treasury but the Department has brought publication of its spending data in line with transactions published by local authorities. These transactions will include payments made directly by this Department to housing associations and other social housing providers. Grant payments made by this Department from 2008-09 can be found at the following website:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/transparencyingovernment/spenddata/
	From November 2010 the Department has published this spend data on a monthly basis.
	The Homes and Communities Agency, as a Departmental arm's length body, is responsible for publishing its own spending data and is expected to publish details of their transactions over £500 every month on their own website. HM Treasury prescribe the format of the data published and provide guidance on content and data exclusions.
	Expenditure data from 2010-11 can be found at the following website:
	http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/transparency
	To provide the detail of all payments made to each housing associations and other social housing provider in every year for the last five years, including the purpose for which the funding was provided, would be to do so at disproportionate cost.

Wind Power: Planning Permission

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of (a) the effect of the presumption in favour of sustainable development on appeals to overturn local planning decisions relating to wind farms and (b) the compatibility of that presumption with his localism policy.

Bob Neill: holding answer 28 February 2012
	An impact assessment was published alongside the draft National Planning Policy Framework, which includes an initial assessment of the implications for planning appeals. The presumption in favour of sustainable development is designed to reinforce the role of locally-produced plans in addressing development needs.

Departmental Billing

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of his Department's invoices from its private sector suppliers were paid (a) within 14 days, (b) between 15 and 30 days, (c) between 31 and 60 days, (d) between 61 and 90 days and (e) more than 90 days after receipt in the last 12 months.

Bob Neill: The following table shows the number of invoices processed by the Department for Communities and Local Government between 1 February 2011 and 31 January 2012.
	
		
			 Paid Invoices paid Percentage 
			 Within 14 days 13,307 95.27 
			 Between 15 and 30 467 3.34 
			 Between 31 and 60 133 0.95 
			 Between 61 and 90 35 0.25 
		
	
	
		
			 90 plus days 26 0.19 
		
	
	The ‘paid...’ criteria include the two days required by the banking process, and therefore represent delivery of cleared funds in the supplier’s bank account.
	The invoices shown are for all suppliers as DCLG does not distinguish between supplier types.
	For comparison, the performance in April 2010 in percentage terms was:
	
		
			 Paid Percentage 
			 Within 14 days 91.13 
			 Between 15 and 30 5.27 
			 Between 31and 60 1.97 
			 Between 61 and 90 0.85 
			 90 plus days 0.78

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Action for Employment

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contracts her Department has with A4e; and what the (a) purpose and (b) monetary value is of each such contract.

Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA has no contracts with A4e.

Birds of Prey

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the population of each species of birds of prey in each of the last five years.

Richard Benyon: The populations of birds of prey in the UK are monitored through a range of schemes and surveys according to species. For more abundant species, between-year population trends are assessed through annual sample surveys, notably by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)/Joint Nature Conservation Committee/RSPB Breeding Birds Survey, the most recent results of which can be found on the BTO website.
	Scarce species are subject to periodic national surveys (usually undertaken every 12 years) to assess national population sizes. The results of these surveys are published in scientific journals and summarised by the Rare Breeding Birds Panel's annual report, which is available via the Panel's website.
	The geographical range of raptors in UK is periodically assessed by atlases of distribution in the breeding and non-breeding season about every 25 years. These atlases are organised jointly with Ireland, and in the UK are co-ordinated by the BTO and the Scottish Ornithologists' Club. The most recent, covering the period 2007-11, is planned for publication in 2013.
	Population sizes assessments are thus not made annually for all species.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 7 December 2011, Official Report, columns 346-8W, which provided the most recently available assessments of the population size of each diurnal species of UK raptor, and the periods these derive from.

Common Fisheries Policy

Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with (a) the European Commission and (b) other EU member states on fisheries partnership agreements as part of the review of the common fisheries policy; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: As UK Fisheries Minister, I hold regular discussions on fisheries partnership agreements, the revision of which forms a key element to the wider reform of the common fisheries policy. I most recently discussed this with Commissioner Damanaki, earlier this month and with key interests at a DEFRA funded conference at Chatham House. Discussions continue and the external dimension of the CFP is scheduled for discussion at the Fisheries Council on 19 March.
	As negotiations continue, I will press our case for reform, and in particular will look to strengthen proposals on fisheries partnerships agreements to ensure the same principles of sustainable use are applied inside and outside EU waters, and that agreements with developing countries are managed transparently.

Departmental Data Protection

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2012, Official Report, column 80W, on departmental data protection, what data or information was compromised and under what circumstances in each of the five cases of data loss and breaching confidentiality; what steps her Department took in response to each case; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: The five incidents reported in the answer of 6 February 2012, Official Report, column 80W, on departmental data protection were three cases of data loss and two breaches of confidentiality.
	Two of the data loss incidents concerned staff records lost in transit by (i) a mail courier and (ii) loss on a train; the staff affected were made aware of the losses. The third data loss incident involved a list of possible nominees for a specialist panel. This was left on public transport, however it was quickly recovered intact with no compromise of integrity or confidentiality. Where staff members were responsible for the losses, action was taken under the Department's disciplinary procedures.
	The two breaches of confidentiality concerned unauthorised disclosures which when investigated were not found to relate to protectively marked information. They had no impact on the business of the Department and did not involve personal data.
	The Department takes all cases of data loss very seriously and all reported incidents are investigated by the departmental security officer. DEFRA and its agencies report all critical and significant personal data security breaches to the Cabinet Office and the Information Commissioners Office. Information on personal data security breaches is published on an annual basis in the Department's annual resource accounts.
	Additionally all critical and significant control weaknesses, including other critical and significant security breaches, are included in the Statement of Internal Control which is published within the annual resource accounts.
	The incidents referred to in this reply all occurred after March 2011 and therefore have yet to appear in published accounts.

Droughts: Lincolnshire

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to mitigate the effects of any potential drought in Lincolnshire.

Richard Benyon: Following the exceptional shortage of rainfall over the last 18 months Lincolnshire is in a drought.
	The Environment Agency's drought team in Lincolnshire meets regularly to plan and implement agreed actions. The meetings include representatives from Anglian Water and the National Farmers Union.
	Advice has been given to all water users in relation to the potential impacts and how they can help. The Environment Agency will continue to provide advice and updates as the situation develops.
	The Environment Agency is closely monitoring the impact of the drought on the environment and will respond to any environmental incidents as result of this, for example by undertaking fish rescues where appropriate.
	The Environment Agency will continue to operate a number of water transfer schemes, including a scheme that pumps water from the River Trent into the rivers Witham and Ancholme. This is used to support public water supply, industry and agriculture in the county.

Droughts: London Olympics 2012

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she is making contingency plans for the potential effects of drought on the London 2012 Olympic Games; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: The Olympics has been designed to be the most sustainable modern Olympics. The Olympic Park sports venues will use at least 40% less water than equivalent buildings through the use of water efficient appliances, rain water harvesting from roofs, and grey water systems. An innovative membrane bioreactor plant has also been installed to make use of ‘black water’ to supply a custom non-potable distribution system on the Olympic site.
	Thames Water, the water supplier to the main Olympics Park, has indicated that if the region does not receive above average rainfall in the near future it may have to impose restrictions on water usage this summer in line with its drought plan. It does not anticipate that this will affect essential Olympic activities and will be working with London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to minimise non-essential water use. Thames Water and the relevant Government Departments hold regular discussions on this issue.
	Other water companies who supply Olympic venues in areas affected by the risk of drought are taking actions in line with their drought plans. As yet there is no indication that this will affect essential Olympic activities.

Environment Agency: Manpower

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many employees of the Environment Agency are assigned to dealing with shale gas issues.

Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency currently has one national officer assigned full time to the environmental regulation of shale gas. A further 20 national officers are actively involved in supporting this work as part of their roles.
	The Environment Agency allocates other officers to regulate and permit these activities on a local site by site basis, subject to the scale of the operation and regulatory need. The Environment Agency estimates that there are currently approximately 40 officers involved in this work across England and Wales. However, these officers undertake a wide range of different regulatory roles and are not solely dedicated to regulating and permitting shale activities.

Environment Agency: Manpower

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were employed in the Environment Agency in each year since 2008; and how many she expects the agency to employ in each year to 2015.

Richard Benyon: The number of staff employed by the Environment Agency, expressed as "Full Time Equivalents" (FTE) can be found in the following table:
	
		
			 Staff employed by the Environment Agency each financial year since 2008 (FTE) 
			 Financial Year Total FTE (including Wales) Wales only FTE 
			 2007-08 12,499 1,085 
			 2008-09 13,372 1,147 
			 2009-10 13,244 1,085 
			 2010-11 11,543 1,032 
		
	
	
		
			 Environment Agency staff numbers projection up to 2015 (FTE) 
			 Financial Year Total FTE (including Wales) Wales only FTE 
			 2011-12 11,562 1,057 
			 2012-13 11,386 (1)— 
			 2013-14 11,211 (1)— 
			 2014-15 11,092 (1)— 
			 (1) Projection is not currently available at the regional level.

Fisheries

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department received any external advice on the prospect of assembling a case to support a request to the European Commission for an increase in the kilowatt days limit for the scallop fishery in the western waters or a realignment of effort from Area VI to Area VII.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA has sought advice from Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), our marine scientific advisers, on whether or not an evidence based justification exists for increasing effort in Area VII. CEFAS advised that such a justification could not be made on the available evidence at this time.

Floods: Pendle

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to mitigate the effects of flooding in Pendle constituency.

Richard Benyon: In November 2011, the Environment Agency lowered a weir on Colne Water at Cotton Tree near Colne. This is providing increased flood protection to 77 properties. In Earby, the Environment Agency is undertaking culvert repairs to protect up to 40 properties from flooding. It is also refurbishing or replacing 10 debris screens to ensure nearby properties are adequately protected from flooding from culverts.
	The Environment Agency has commissioned Jeremy Benn Associates to computer model watercourses to assess gravel accumulation. Results of this modelling are expected in April and will enable more effective flood risk management in the area.
	At the end of February 2012, the Environment Agency will be launching five new flood warning areas that will serve a total of 1,216 commercial and residential properties.
	The Environment Agency works closely with Lancashire county council (the lead local flood authority) and Pendle borough council. There are regular meetings to exchange information on flooding issues and on the implementation of the Flood and Water Management Act.

Fly-tipping: Cycling

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations her Department has received on fly-tipping; and whether her Department has assessed the effects of fly-tipping on cyclists.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA has received a number of official representations on fly-tipping from members of the public, private landowners, enforcement authorities and others as part of the call for evidence ahead of the waste policy review. These were translated into a number of actions in the final waste policy review action plan, including introducing stronger powers to seize the vehicles of suspected offenders, working with the court authorities on increased sentencing and considering the issues around fly-tipping on private land.
	We received representations on fly-tipping on farmland as part of the independent Farm Regulation Task Force Report and have very recently published the Government response to its recommendations. We have actively invited views on fly-tipping from interested parties via the National Fly-tipping Prevention Group.
	No specific assessment has been carried out of the effects of fly-tipping on cyclists.

Food: Packaging

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to reduce the use of packaging in the food industry.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA is working with food retailers and manufacturers to reduce waste via Phase 2 of The Courtauld Commitment, a responsibility deal with the grocery retail sector. This includes a target to reduce the carbon impact of grocery packaging by 10% by the end of 2012 (by reducing packaging, recycling more or increasing the recycled content of this packaging).
	In December 2011, WRAP published results covering the first year of Courtauld Phase 2, 2009-10. These revealed that we have made good progress towards the target on packaging, with a reduction of 5.1% in emissions associated with packaging in the first year of the agreement.
	We are also working with industry, the Devolved Administrations and the Waste and Resources Action Programme to develop a new voluntary agreement with the hospitality and food service sector. This agreement will seek to reduce food and packaging waste and deal with the waste that does arise, more sustainably. We aim to launch this agreement in the spring.

Food: Waste

Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the Government will set a date by which it intends to achieve its long-term vision that no food waste is sent to landfill sites.

Richard Benyon: We have not set a specific date to achieve our long-term vision of sending no food waste to landfill.
	However, we are working towards this vision by helping consumers waste less and save money through the waste and resources action programme's (WRAP) ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ campaign, working with the food industry to improve products and practices through the Courtauld Commitment, and developing the evidence base on food waste causes and quantities. We are also working with WRAP and the devolved Administrations to develop a new voluntary agreement with the hospitality and food service sector to reduce food and packaging waste and to manage the waste that does arise more sustainably.

Genetically Modified Organisms: Crops

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many strains of genetically modified crops are licensed for use in the UK.

James Paice: Three types of genetically modified (GM) crop have been licensed by the European Union (EU) for commercial cultivation:
	Monsanto MON 810 insect-resistant maize
	Bayer T25 herbicide-tolerant maize
	BASF EH92-5271 amylopectin industrial starch potato
	T25 maize seed has not been marketed anywhere in the EU and is not expected to be for the foreseeable future. The other two crops have been grown in some member states but not in the UK, because they are not suitable for, or relevant to, our circumstances. As such, the seed is not being marketed here.
	In addition to the above, over forty types of GM crop have been licensed by the EU for use as food or feed products, but not as seed for cultivation. Full details are available at:
	http://ec.europa.eu/food/dyna/gm_register/index_en.cfm
	Currently, three types of GM crop are authorised to be grown for research purposes in field trials in England. These are a nematode-resistant potato, a blight-resistant potato and an aphid-repellent wheat.

Landfill

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the minimum permitted membrane thickness of a landfill site is; and what steps she would expect the Environment Agency to take if a membrane is found to be below the minimum permitted thickness.

Richard Benyon: The EU Landfill Directive specifies the requirements for bottom liners in landfills. Protection of soil, groundwater and surface water is achieved by the combination of a geological barrier and a bottom liner. The landfill base and sides must consist of a mineral layer or artificially established geological barrier that satisfies permeability and thickness requirements laid down for different classes of landfill site.
	The minimum thickness of geomembranes used at landfill sites is not set down in regulations but depends on the nature of the site and the wastes accepted. As a general rule, 2 mm is used for the base and sides and 1 mm for the cap.
	A single measurement below the minimum thickness would trigger no action, but if the membrane was found frequently to be below the minimum thickness on delivery to the site it would be rejected. If it was found to be unacceptable after installation, the Environment Agency would generally require the site operator to provide a risk assessment to determine what impact on the environment the reduced thickness of the geomembrane would have. If the impact was negligible, the Environment Agency might allow the geomembrane to stay in situ; if not, the Environment Agency would require its removal and replacement.

Landfill

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what level of insurance her Department requires companies who (a) operate on and (b) operate landfill sites to hold in respect of environmental damage.

Richard Benyon: There is currently no specific legal requirement under the Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) Regulations 2009 to hold insurance in respect of 'environmental damage' within the meaning of those regulations.
	For non-landfill waste management activities, the Environment Agency only issues an environmental permit if it is satisfied that the operator is capable of meeting the obligations under the permit. The Environment Agency makes a risk-based assessment of whether the operator has any current or past insolvency and/or bankruptcy proceedings, and performs a credit check (or undertakes further investigations) where appropriate.
	Under the EU Landfill Directive, there is a requirement that operators have made adequate provisions by way of financial security to meet the obligations arising under their environmental permit and the provisions of the directive. This includes provision for the closure and long-term aftercare needed for most landfill sites.
	The grant of an environmental permit for a landfill site is subject to the need for the operator to make financial provision that must be 'adequate' to discharge the obligations under the permit for as long as is required. This means that the provision has to be: sufficient (in monetary terms) to meet the obligations of the permit; secure for the duration of the permit; and available when required to discharge permit obligations.

Landfill: Arpley

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department has put in place to (a) monitor and (b) minimise emissions of (i) inorganic compounds, (ii) dioxin and (iii) non-methane organic compounds at Arpley landfill (A) site and (B) gas generator; what assessment she has made of the merits of taking further such steps; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: Environmental permits issued by the Environment Agency for landfill sites have strict controls for managing and minimising landfill gas emissions (including trace constituents) from the landfill. The primary control measures include installation of gas collection systems within the waste mass, capping completed areas and burning the collected gas within engines to produce electricity, which is exported to the National Grid.
	The emissions from the gas engines are monitored periodically for a range of substances. Emission limits are set in the permit to ensure that statutory environmental quality standards are met. The permit also requires the control of the combustion process to minimise emissions and ensure that they do not impact on human health or the environment. The low concentration of chlorinated compounds in the landfill gas and the combustion conditions mean that the monitoring of dioxin from the gas utilisation plant is not required.
	In accordance with Environment Agency guidance, monitoring for non-methane volatile organic compounds is no longer carried out. A recent review of the landfill gas risk assessment for the Arpley Landfill Site concluded that the emissions would not exceed the relevant environmental quality standard at any of the designated receptors.

Landfill: Lancashire

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the likely total volume of waste going to landfill produced in (a) Pendle constituency, (b) East Lancashire and (c) Lancashire in each of the next 15 years.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA does not make such estimates. Local authorities are best placed to determine the waste management needs in their areas. Under the EU Landfill Directive, the UK is required to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill to 50% by 2013. The UK wide landfill target for 2013 is 17.8 million tonnes. We are on track to meeting this target.

Landfill: North West

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the likely total volume of waste going to landfill produced by (a) Merseyside, (b) Greater Manchester, (c) the borough of Warrington, (d) the borough of Halton and (e) the borough of Wigan in each of the next 15 years.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA does not make such estimates. Local authorities are best placed to determine the waste management needs in their areas. Under the EU Landfill Directive, the UK is required to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill to 50% by 2013. The UK wide landfill target for 2013 is 17.8 million tonnes. We are on track to meeting this target.

Marine Stewardship Council: Consumers

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will assess the effect of Marine Stewardship Council certification on consumer behaviour.

Richard Benyon: The report “Attitudes and Behaviours around Sustainable Food Purchasing”, published by DEFRA in April 2011, examines the issue of consumer attitudes to Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified fish. A copy of this report is available on the DEFRA website.
	One of the projects funded as part of the Greener Living Fund (GLF), “MSC on the Menu”, looked at raising consumer awareness of MSC at selected certified sites, such as restaurants and places of employment.
	The focus of this work package was to develop ‘point of sale’ materials and explore their effectiveness in promoting sustainable choices. The GLF evaluation report is due to be published later this year.

Members: Correspondence

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to answer the hon. Member for Harrow West's letter about the answering of a parliamentary question on senior staff being paid through a private company.

Richard Benyon: The hon. Member for Harrow West can expect an answer to his letter shortly, in line with the Department’s 15-working day target for replying to correspondence from hon. Members.

Morocco: Fishery Agreements

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what reference is made to Western Sahara in the documents provided by Morocco on the effect on the Saharawi people of the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement.

Richard Benyon: There was no specific mention of Western Sahara in the information provided by Morocco. Some of the information could be related to the area, such as investments in a particular port, but other information was provided on a province by province basis and the borders of the provinces do not coincide exactly with those of Western Sahara.

Morocco: Fishery Agreements

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will ask the European Commission to consult representatives of the Saharawi population on the proposed EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement.

Richard Benyon: As part of normal discussions in negotiating new fisheries partnership agreements we would expect the Commission to seek assurances that local fishing communities benefit from such agreements. In the case of the proposed EU-Morocco agreement this would include those representing the Saharawi population.

Pesticides

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Chemical Regulation Directorate applies the precautionary principle when (a) assessing the risks of the use of pesticides to the environment and (b) appraising new research relevant to such risks; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: Commission Communication (2000)1 of 2 February 2000 outlines the European Commission's approach to using the precautionary principle and establishes, among other aims, Commission guidelines for applying it. These guidelines recognise that one way of applying the precautionary principle is through the Community rules for prior approval of certain products, such as pesticides, before they are placed on the market. In authorising pesticide products in the UK under the EU rules for national authorisations, the Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD) assesses the products to ensure the risks that can arise from use of these products are acceptable and that these risks can be managed effectively.
	The CRD reviews relevant new research findings against the framework of the regulatory risk assessment and, where appropriate, discusses them with other pesticide regulators and in international forums. Relevant research would also be considered by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides which provides independent scientific advice on pesticide authorisations in the UK.
	The CRD will continue to be involved with the development of risk assessment methodology and keeps abreast of developments in this area. It will continue to consider relevant studies as they arise.

Pollution: Incinerators

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to ensure that pollution from the incinerators constructed by Veolia in the UK are effectively regulated and monitored.

Richard Benyon: Waste recovery and disposal operations, including incineration, are subject to the requirement for a permit under EU Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC), the principal purpose of which is to prevent harm to human health and the environment. This requirement is met in England and Wales through the environmental permitting regime. The Environment Agency is the regulator for the determination of applications for environmental permits and carries out inspection and other forms of compliance assessment of permitted facilities.
	Incineration plants are additionally obliged to meet the stringent emission requirements of the Waste Incineration Directive (WID) (2000/76/EC) and, for those with an incineration capacity exceeding three tonnes an hour, the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive (2008/1/EC) which requires the operation to be carried out in accordance with best available techniques.

Rhydymwyn Valley

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by what date she plans to publish the final vision document for the future of the Rhydymwyn Valley site.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA has no plan to publish a paper or statement on the future of the Rhydymwyn site. DEFRA will continue to manage the site to fulfil its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention Declaration and its obligations as site owner.

Rhydymwyn Valley

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received from organisations on the future of the Rhydymwyn Valley site since 1 January 2011.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA has received no formal written representations on the future of the Rhydymwyn site since 1 January 2011.
	DEFRA has received and responded to various correspondence since 1 January 2011 relating to operational issues on site. Within this dialogue, groups have set out their aspirations in respect of their specific relationship with the site. Views expressed generally seek to promote nature conservation or the history of the site. Views have also been expressed against any intensification of use for any purpose.
	The general correspondence includes the following topics—the site access policy, access to the tunnels, an All Ability Bike scheme, correspondence with the Community Council, maintenance of the buildings, management of controlled plants, the Historic Building survey and filming on site.
	Officials from the Department also met with a number of stakeholders in February 2011 to discuss their concerns and encouraged the groups to co-operate and form a consensus view between the groups to inform a way forward acceptable to all.

Rhydymwyn Valley

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the next meeting of the joint consultative committee for the Rhydymwyn Valley site to take place; who the current members and chair of the committee are; and when the Joint Consultative Board last met.

Richard Benyon: It is not intended that the Government hold any further meetings of the Joint Consultative Board (JCB) for the Rhydymwyn Valley site. The board does therefore not have a current confirmed membership. The last meeting was held on 14 July 2009 and had representatives from:
	DEFRA (Chair)
	North East Wales Wildlife
	Rhydymwyn Valley History Society (formerly Valley History Society)
	Rhual Estate
	Interserve
	Friends of Rhydymwyn Valley
	Grosvenor Caving Club
	Walkabout Flintshire
	British Trust for Ornithology
	Mold and District Civic Society
	Clwyd Badger Group
	Cilcain Community Council.
	Groups who offered apologies for the meeting included:
	Reptile Recorder
	Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust.

River Rom: Conservation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what conservation work her Department has carried out on the River Rom; and what future work is planned.

Richard Benyon: In 2011, three projects were completed on the Rom, which becomes the River Beam at the Chase Nature Reserve. A natural connection of the river with its flood plain was made at Collier Road Flood Storage Area, and wetland scrapes were created there. A backwater was created at Chase Nature Reserve to provide fish refuge in times of high flow. The river was restored through Beam Parklands and in excess of 12ha of UK Priority Biodiversity Action Plan habitat was created.
	Work planned on the river involves the removal of a weir at Beam Valley Country Park for the benefit of habitat and improved fish passage. Recently plans have been discussed with Havering borough council to significantly improve the river from Roneo Corner to the Chase, a length of 1.5km. Concrete removal and river re-naturalising are being discussed. A Catchment Plan that includes the Rom is due to be completed by December 2012.

Rural Areas: Broadband

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding her Department provides for the provision of broadband other than superfast broadband in rural areas.

Richard Benyon: The Government's £530 million investment in the rollout of broadband to rural areas is aimed at providing standard broadband to all premises and superfast broadband to at least 90% of premises by 2015. The complementary Rural Community Broadband Fund operated by DEFRA under the Rural Development programme for England is targeted at the 10% of communities that will otherwise receive only standard broadband.
	DEFRA is not funding standard broadband since that would involve us duplicating one of the key aims of the main fund operated by Broadband Delivery UK.

Rural Areas: Private Finance Initiative

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on funding for a second round of Rural Growth Network pilots.

Richard Benyon: The intention to support around six pilot Rural Growth Networks was one of the package of Rural Economy Growth Review measures announced as part of the autumn statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), on 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810. We are currently focused on setting up those pilots and, as such, no discussions have taken place concerning the possibility of a second round.

Scallops

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2012, Official Report, column 499W, on scallops, whether the conditions for (a) seeking a reallocation of effort from Area VI and VII and (b) increasing effort in Area VII were on the agenda of meetings with the European Commission; and when these issues were last discussed.

Richard Benyon: There have been no recent discussions on these issues.

Seas and Oceans: Technology

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect of emergent technologies on (a) coastlines and the seabed, (b) marine mammals and seabirds and (c) human communities in development areas.

Richard Benyon: In the “Productive Seas” chapter of “Charting Progress 2” and the associated feeder report, available on the DEFRA website, the principle activities occurring in the marine environment are described, together with an assessment of the environmental pressures they pose, their consequent impacts and the associated management measures that have been taken.

Third Sector

Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department has taken to implement the principles of the Best Value Statutory Guidance in respect of (a) giving at least three months' notice to voluntary and community organisations and their service users when reducing or ending funding, (b) engaging with voluntary and community organisations and service users as early as possible before making a decision on the future of the service, any knock-on effects on assets used to provide this service and the wider impact on the local community and (c) making provision for voluntary and community organisations and service users to put forward options on how to reshape the service or project.

Richard Benyon: The Best Value guidance does not legally apply to central Government Departments or their executive agencies.
	However, as the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), made clear in his foreword to the revised Best Value guidance, central Government Departments support the fair standards set out in the guidance and have reaffirmed their commitment to the national Compact. The issues raised are covered by the Compact.
	In January the National Audit Office published ‘Central Government's implementation of the national Compact’; this report provides commentary on the implementation of the national Compact across Government. DEFRA participated fully in the National Audit Office's review and will be following up, as appropriate, the recommendations set out in the National Audit Office report, in order to ensure that the Department continues to be a strong model of collaborative working between Government and the voluntary sector.

Water Companies

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost of the infrastructure needed to connect neighbouring water companies.

Richard Benyon: At present around 650 Ml/d of water is transferred between water companies which represent some 5% of the total amount of water put into the water supply system. The water White Paper stated that companies would be expected to have explored all options for balancing supply and demand in their water resource management plans, including interconnectivity within and across company boundaries and opportunities for trading water.
	However, modelling work by Ofwat has suggested that, nationally, water companies could save an estimated £960 million (net present value) by making better use of interconnections rather than developing local resource solutions. Work by the Water Resources in the South East group, which represents the water companies of the south-east, has estimated that, by 2035, net benefits of £501 million could be achieved in the south-east alone at a cost of £262 million NPV from better sharing of resources.

Water Supply: Finance

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of spending (a) by each water company and (b) in each constituent part of the UK on improvements to (i) the network of water and sewerage pipes and (ii) other capital assets since 1991.

Richard Benyon: Ofwat is the economic regulator of the water and sewerage sectors in England and Wales. Since privatisation in 1989, a total of approximately £98 billion of capital expenditure has been spent by the water and sewerage sector on improving services.
	Data showing each companies’ total capital expenditure within England and Wales since privatisation has been placed in the House Library. These figures include both improvements to water and sewerage networks and other capital assets since privatisation.

Water: Pollution

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what safeguards exist to ensure that traces of cytotoxic drugs do not enter the water supply chain.

Richard Benyon: The drinking water regulations were changed at the end of 2007 to introduce a continuous process of risk assessment by water companies for the presence of substances that may pose a potential risk to human health in raw water at each point of abstraction. Companies must monitor raw water, mitigate identified hazards and notify the Drinking Water Inspectorate of the outcomes of risk assessments. The Chief Inspector of Drinking Water has the power to impose additional mitigation steps or, exceptionally, to require that a supply is shut down.
	To support these industry risk assessments, the Drinking Water Inspectorate, in association with the Health Protection Agency, carries out national risk assessments for new and emerging drinking water hazards, and commissions supporting independent studies, funded and published by DEFRA. This regime for safeguarding drinking water quality and health introduced into law the water safety plan approach which comprises global best practice as published by the World Health Organisation in its ‘Guidelines on Drinking Water Quality: Chapter Four’.

West Africa: Fisheries

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department provides funding to governments in West Africa to help them protect their waters from illegal fishing.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA provides no direct funding to West African Governments to help protect their waters from illegal fishing. However, the United Kingdom has played, and continues to play, a full part in supporting and encouraging capacity building in West African states. Examples of this include participation in 2011 in a Maritime Security Conference organised by the International Maritime Organisation and Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa, the involvement of national fisheries control experts in projects in Senegal, Sierra Leone and Ghana and hosting West African fisheries officials in the UK fisheries operations room and Fishery Monitoring Centres. DEFRA has also recently sponsored an event at Chatham House on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, which was attended by representatives from several West African states.

West Africa: Fisheries

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to encourage a sustainable EU policy towards the exploitation of West African fish stocks through third party agreements.

Richard Benyon: As UK Fisheries Minister, I hold regular discussions on fisheries partnership agreements, the revision of which forms a key element to the wider reform of the common fisheries policy (CFP). I most recently discussed this with Commissioner Damanaki earlier this month and with key interests at a DEFRA funded conference at Chatham House. Discussions continue and the external dimension of the CFP is scheduled at the Fisheries Council on 19 March.

Western Sahara: Fisheries

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what reports she has received of British trawlers using flags of convenience to fish in the waters off western Sahara.

Richard Benyon: I am aware that a very small number of UK fishing vessels have previously fished in the waters off western Sahara under the flags of other countries in order to obtain some more fish quota. While they are entitled to do this, I understand they are now back under the UK flag.

Western Sahara: Fisheries

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government is taking to ensure that trawlers from EU member states fishing off the coast of West Africa act in accordance with the provisions of third party fisheries agreements.

Richard Benyon: UK ensures that all fish imported from West Africa are caught in accordance with the requirements of fisheries partnership agreements through the checking of catch certificates. We are also working within the common fisheries policy reform process to ensure that measures governing vessels fishing under such agreements are strengthened to ensure more sustainable and well managed fisheries.

JUSTICE

Appeals: Employment and Support Allowance

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average length of time was between an applicant lodging an appeal against a decision on entitlement to employment and support allowance and the appeal being heard between (a) June 2009 and May 2010 and (b) June 2010 and May 2011.

Jonathan Djanogly: Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) hears appeals against Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) decisions on entitlement to employment and support allowance (ESA).
	The following table shows the average time taken from submission of an appeal to the DWP until the date of the first appeal hearing at HMCTS for ESA appeals.
	
		
			 Average waiting times—employment and support allowance 
			  June 2009 to May 2010 June 2010 to May 2011 
			 Average time in weeks from submission to DWP to receipt at HMCTS 7.2 8.1 
			 Average time in weeks from receipt at HMCTS to first hearing 15.0 21.0 
			 Notes: 1. The above data is taken from management information. 2. The data regarding the time from when an appeal is submitted to the DWP until it is received by HMCTS is taken from HMCTS' database and relies on the date of submission provided by DWP. The Tribunal does not measure the time from receipt at DWP to receipt at HMCTS and the averages have been calculated by subtracting the time from receipt at HMCTS to first hearing from the total average time. 
		
	
	HMCTS is working hard to increase the capacity of the SSCS Tribunal and reduce waiting times. It has implemented a range of measures including securing additional hearing rooms; increasing the number of cases listed in each session; increasing the number of sessions held; streamlining its administrative processes; running double shifts in its largest processing centre so that more appeals can be processed each day; running Saturday sittings in some of the busiest venues (where there is demand and where it is feasible); setting up a customer contact centre to deal with telephone enquiries for the processing sites, freeing up other staff to focus on processing appeals and arranging hearings; and recruiting more judges and panel members to hear more appeals.
	All of this is having a positive effect. The number of disposals has increased significantly from 279,000 in 2009-10 to 380,000 in 2010-11 and the tribunal will dispose of over 435,000 appeals this year, with the capacity for half a million disposals in 2012-13. Disposals outstripped receipts for the ten months between January 2011 and October 2011, and the number of cases waiting to be heard reduced by over 35,000 between April and October. The average waiting time has stabilised nationally, and is beginning to fall in many venues.

Barristers: Pay

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which 10 barristers' Chambers earned the most from criminal legal aid in the last year; and how much they earned.

Jonathan Djanogly: The information is not held. The Legal Services Commission (LSC) does not pay Chambers for the provision of legal aid work. The LSC pay individual barristers directly, except where a barrister is either employed by a solicitor firm or paid by a solicitor firm as part of a disbursement under legal aid.

Children: Custody

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many children have been returned to the UK voluntarily following wrongful retention by a parent living abroad in each year between 2002 and 2012.

Jonathan Djanogly: The information available for cases of voluntary return to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland under the 1980 Hague convention on the civil aspects of international child abduction is set out in the following table. Cases can involve more than one child. Statistics on voluntary returns do not show whether the abduction was a wrongful removal or wrongful retention.
	
		
			 Cases of voluntary return of children removed from: 
			  England and Wales Scotland Northern Ireland 
			 2002 29 (2)— 1 
			 2003 49 (2)— 2 
			 2004 47 (2)— 0 
			 2005 44 (2)— 0 
			 2006 42 (2)— 1 
			 2007 56 (2)— 1 
			 2008 59 (2)— 1 
			 2009 58 2 0 
			 2010 36 4 0 
			 2011 (1)— 0 (3)0 
			 (1) Not yet available (2) Not available (3) Provisional

Courts: Crimes of Violence

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many violent incidents were recorded in each (a) court and (b) tribunal in (i) 2009, (ii) 2010 and (iii) 2011.

Jonathan Djanogly: The number of violent incidents reported in courts and tribunals are as follows:
	2009-10: 213
	2010-11: 197
	2011-12 (April to November 2011): 71.
	It is not possible to provide a breakdown for each court and tribunal for the years requested as courts and tribunals operate out of approximately 650 locations. Providing these data would be labour intensive, time consuming and result in a disproportionate cost.
	As with question 96705, the figures provided comprise reported incidents from the reporting periods April to March and resulting in actual violence. This includes include incidents between and against parties, court and tribunal users and Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunal Service staff and contractors. These figures do not include verbal abuse or threats, nor any violent incident which took place off HMCTS premises while staff were undertaking official duties.
	My Department takes the security of all court users seriously and it is the policy of Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service that all security incidents are reported and investigated. All incidents involving violence are reported to the police for further investigation.

Courts: Security

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many security staff were employed by Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011 by each individual court and tribunal.

Jonathan Djanogly: Under the Ministry of Justice, Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has employed the following approximate total number of security staff (security guards/supervisors) across its courts and tribunals sites:
	
		
			  Number 
			 2009 1,632 
			 2010 1,641 
			 2011 1,463 
		
	
	However, for reasons of operational security it is inappropriate to detail the exact number of security staff employed by each individual court and tribunal site.

Criminal Proceedings: Translation Services

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many interpreters on the National Register of Public Service Interpreters have worked for his Department under its framework agreement with Applied Language Solutions since August 2011.

Crispin Blunt: The Ministry of Justice began using services under its contract with Applied Language Services in December 2011. The information requested is not held by the Ministry of Justice. Interpreters provided under this contract must have appropriate qualifications.

Death Certificates

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the case for bringing forward legislative proposals for England based on the Presumption of Death (Scotland) Act 1977 to create a single certificate in the event of a person being presumed dead.

Jonathan Djanogly: We are currently considering the recommendations for the creation of a certificate of presumed death made by the Justice Select Committee in its report of 22 February 2012 on ‘Presumption of Death’ and by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Runaway and Missing Children and Adults in the report of its inquiry into support for families of missing persons published in July 2011. We hope to announce our initial conclusions in our response to the Select Committee report.

Departmental Internet

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what public services his Department delivers online only.

Kenneth Clarke: The Ministry of Justice does not deliver any public services online only.

Employment Tribunals Service

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) unpaid employment tribunal awards and (b) unpaid ACAS settlements were passed to High Court Enforcement Officers in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12 to date; how many of these unpaid awards and settlements have been fully enforced; how many could not be enforced; and how many cases remain unresolved.

Jonathan Djanogly: In financial year (FY) 2010-11, 1407 unpaid employment tribunal awards and 88 unpaid ACAS settlements were passed to High Court Enforcement Officers (HCEOs). In FY 2011-12 to date, the figure for unpaid employment tribunal awards passed to HCEOs is 1304, and for ACAS settlements it is 172.
	Regarding the successful enforcement or otherwise , the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) does not hold figures centrally which specifically relate to HCEOs performance data on these cases. Data is supplied on a quarterly basis to MOJ which covers all enforcement cases not just employment tribunal and ACAS. An exercise is currently underway for this data to be extracted and be available by the end of April 2012. I will write to you once this exercise is complete.

Employment Tribunals Service

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many (a) single claims, (b) multiple claims and (c) multiple claim cases were accepted by employment tribunals in each year since 2000-01;
	(2)  how many (a) multiple claims and (b) multiple claim cases were accepted by employment tribunals in each quarter of 2011-12 to date.

Jonathan Djanogly: Claims to employment tribunals may be classified into two broad categories: singles and multiples. Multiples claims are where two or more people bring claims, involving one or more jurisdiction(s), and usually against a single employer (but not necessarily so, for instance in transfer of undertaking cases). To be joined in a multiple, individual claims must arise out of the same or very similar circumstances. As a multiple, the component claims are processed, and judicially managed, together.
	Statistics published quarterly and annually by Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service provide a breakdown of claims received (or 'accepted') and concluded (or 'disposed'). Since the financial year 2006-07, this breakdown has included that between single and multiple claims. These statistics can be found online:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/tribunals/employment-tribunal-and-eat-statistics-gb.htm
	For the purposes of this answer, we have defined 'multiple claims' as the individual component claims brought or handled within a multiple; and 'multiple claim cases' as the combined groupings formed by the component claims.
	The following tables set out the number of singles, multiples, and 'multiple claim cases' accepted in each financial year for which data is available since 2000-01; and the number of multiples accepted in each quarter of 2011-12 for which data are available. Information on the number of ‘multiple claim cases’ for each quarter of 2011/12 will not be available until later in the year.
	
		
			 Table 1.1: Employment Tribunal receipts since 2000-01 
			  Singles (1) Multiples (1) Multiple claim cases (1) 
			 2000-01 77,800 52,200 5,100 
			 2001-02 70,900 41,100 5,100 
		
	
	
		
			 2002-03 68,000 30,700 5,000 
			 2003-04 65,700 49,400 5,000 
			 2004-05 55,600 30,600 4,600 
			 2005-06 51,300 63,100 5,900 
			 2006-07 54,100 78,600 6,700 
			 2007-08(2) 54,500 134,800 6,600 
			 2008-09 62,400 88,700 7,400 
			 2009-10 71,300 164,800 7,400 
			 2010-11 60,600 157,500 5,900 
			 (1) Figures for singles and multiples prior to 2006-07 are provisional as a breakdown was not provided at the time the original information was published. (2) Figures for 2007-08 are provisional due to issues over how multiple claims were counted. Source: ET Annual reports and ET Database 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 1.2: Employment Tribunal Quarterly Multiple Receipts 2011-12 
			  Claims Cases 
			 Q1 32,900 — 
			 Q2 25,000 — 
			 Source: Quarterly Statistics for the Tribunals. Data are not held on the number of ‘multiple claim cases’ within the Quarters. There can be some movement in claim designations between single and multiple claims during the first six months of a claims life so the information currently held will not be accurate. Once reconciliation is carried out for the Annual Report, it will be possible to provide a consistent set of data. This will be carried out in June 2012.

EU Staff: Corruption

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many EU officials were convicted of corruption offences in the UK in each of the last five years; and what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the 1997 EU Convention designed to fight corruption involving officials of the European Union or national officials of member states of the European Union since its introduction.

Kenneth Clarke: The Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database holds information on offences provided by the statutes under which proceedings are brought, but not the specific circumstances of each case. Therefore it is not possible to identify from centrally held information whether and, if so, how many EU officials were convicted of corruption offences in the UK.
	UK law meets the standards of the 1997 EU convention on the fight against corruption involving officials of the European Union or national officials of member states of the European Union by virtue of the Bribery Act 2010. An assessment has not been made at national level about the overall effectiveness of the convention.

Judicial Conduct

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the relationship between the Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman and the Office of Judicial Complaints; and whether there is a duplication between those two offices in relation to judicial conduct.

Kenneth Clarke: Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman (JACO) are laid out in the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 which created them.
	The OJC considers all complaints about Judicial Office holders, including recommendations on disciplinary action against magistrates and tribunal office holders made through local investigations. The JACO considers the process the OJC adopted when handling the complaint, to identify any maladministration with a view to improving complaint handling by the OJC.
	The Ombudsman has no remit to consider the original complaint about the judge's conduct, nor can he review the merits of OJC decisions. This separation in each body's remit ensures that there is no duplication between these two offices in relation to judicial conduct.

Legal Aid Scheme

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the budget for criminal legal aid was in the last year.

Jonathan Djanogly: There is no separate budget for criminal legal aid; funding forms part of the overall legal aid provision. In cash terms, spending on criminal legal aid was £1,165 million in 2010-11.

Legal Profession: Pay

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which 25 lawyers earned the most from criminal legal aid in the last year; and how much they earned.

Jonathan Djanogly: The information is not readily available. Additionally, the amounts paid to individual solicitors are not known as the Legal Services Commission (LSC) contracts with firms of solicitors, rather than individual solicitors.
	Given the level of public interest, officials now produce a list of highest paid barristers and solicitor firms each year. This work will be published in due course and I will write to the hon. Member once my officials have published the data.

Prison Sentences

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what offences prisoners were serving an indeterminate sentence for public protection (IPP) who have served longer than their minimum tariff in the period since the introduction of that sentence.

Crispin Blunt: As at 31 December 2011 a total of 3,489 prisoners serving an indeterminate sentence for public protection had passed their tariff expiry date. The following table shows a breakdown of these prisoners by offence:
	
		
			  Number 
			 Total 3,489 
			   
			 Manslaughter 72 
			 Other homicide and attempted homicide 130 
			 Other violence against the person 1,047 
		
	
	
		
			 Rape 295 
			 Other sexual offences 476 
			 Robbery 963 
			 Arson 203 
			 Other offences 303 
		
	
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prison Sentences

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners serving (a) an indeterminate sentence for public protection (IPP) and (b) a life sentence have been directed to be (i) released and (ii) transferred to a Category D prison since May 2010; and for what offences they had been sentenced to the IPP or life sentence.

Crispin Blunt: The following tables show the numbers of indeterminate sentenced prisoners released by the independent Parole Board between 1 May 2010 and 30 September 2011 (the most recent data currently available), by offence for which they were sentenced:
	
		
			 IPPs 
			  Number 
			 Manslaughter 10 
			 Other homicide and attempted homicide 11 
			 Other violence against the person 112 
			 Rape 7 
			 Other sexual offences 20 
			 Robbery 73 
			 Arson 17 
			 Other offences 15 
			 Total 265 
		
	
	
		
			 Life sentences 
			  Number 
			 Murder 209 
			 Manslaughter 13 
			 Other homicide and attempted homicide 5 
			 Other violence against the person 41 
			 Rape 10 
			 Robbery 15 
			 Arson 2 
			 Other offences 9 
			 Total 304 
		
	
	The requested data on the number of indeterminate sentenced prisoners transferred to a Category D prison are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners

Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will provide a breakdown of the prison population by (a) race, (b) age and (c) gender in the latest period for which figures are available.

Crispin Blunt: The following table shows the breakdown of the prison population in England and Wales as at 31 December 2011 (latest available).
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	
		
			 Population in prison establishments by sex, ethnicity and age, 31 December 2011, England and Wales 
			 Age group White Mixed Asian or Asian British Black or Black British Chinese or Other Not stated Unrecorded Total 
			 Males:         
			 15-17 767 136 118 336 15 2 40 1,414 
			 18-20 4,963 476 549 1,303 80 13 172 7,556 
			 21-24 9,193 729 1,058 2,045 126 22 352 13,525 
			 25-29 10,206 595 1,437 2,031 158 26 395 14,848 
			 30-39 15,481 658 2,037 2,740 253 34 559 21,762 
			 40-49 10,700 300 786 1,857 136 29 300 14,108 
			 50-59 4,787 92 278 557 49 11 87 5,861 
			 60 and over 2,797 13 77 100 12 12 27 3,038 
			 Total 58,894 2,999 6,340 10,969 829 149 1,932 82,112 
			          
			 Females :         
			 15-17 16 5 2 3 0 0 4 30 
			 18-20 227 20 7 32 2 0 4 292 
			 21-24 429 34 21 59 7 0 12 562 
			 25-29 564 34 26 105 8 0 11 748 
			 30-39 937 54 39 159 21 0 13 1,223 
			 40-49 605 22 34 113 18 1 15 808 
			 50-59 237 8 22 41 8 0 2 318 
			 60 and over 63 0 6 7 1 1 1 79 
			 Total 3,078 177 157 519 65 2 62 4,060 
			          
			 Males and Females:         
			 15-17 783 141 120 339 15 2 44 1,444 
			 18-20 5,190 496 556 1,335 82 13 176 7,848 
			 21-24 9,622 763 1,079 2,104 133 22 364 14,087 
			 25-29 10,770 629 1,463 2,136 166 26 406 15,596 
			 30-39 16,418 712 2,076 2,899 274 34 572 22,985 
			 40-49 11,305 322 820 1,970 154 30 315 14,916 
			 50-59 5,024 100 300 598 57 11 89 6,179 
			 60 and over 2,860 13 83 107 13 13 28 3,117 
			 Total 61,972 3,176 6,497 11,488 894 151 1,994 86,172

Prisoners

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners serving an indeterminate sentence for public protection in England and Wales were assessed as suitable to be held in open conditions but were waiting to be moved to a Category D prison in the latest period for which figures are available.

Crispin Blunt: As at 2 December 2011, there were 492 indeterminate sentence prisoners (ISPs) who had been approved by the Secretary of State for transfer to open conditions but were located in closed. This figure includes those serving a life sentence and those serving an indeterminate sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP).
	This figure is taken from a snapshot of data. ISPs are prioritised for transfer to open conditions using the date the Secretary of State approved their move. Whether prisoners are serving an IPP or a life sentence is not relevant to the prioritisation criteria and as a result was not, at that time, recorded as part of the process.
	Providing a figure for IPPs alone would incur disproportionate costs as that data has not been retained in a recorded form. In order to establish the number of prisoners serving IPP sentences at the time the snapshot was taken, retrospective checks of individual prisoners' records would have to be performed to recreate the list at the time it was generated.
	This data is subject to variation due to progress of individual cases including prisoners removal from open conditions following adverse developments and Parole Board decisions following review.
	This figure was drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Reoffenders

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to reduce re-offending of people sentenced to one year or less in custody.

Crispin Blunt: The Government are committed to reducing re-offending to cut crime, build safer communities and increase public confidence in the criminal justice system.
	Many of the offenders who are sentenced to one year or less in custody are serial offenders with chaotic lives who repeatedly commit crime. The latest reoffending rates for short term prisoners illustrates the urgent need to tackle their re-offending, with 56.6% of adults serving sentences of less than 12 months re-offend within one year of release.
	This cohort of offenders is the target of the first custody related pilot of our payment by results programme to reduce reoffending and will be an important focus of many of the other pilots, whether managed from custody or by other agencies in the community helping address the cause of their offending on release.
	As set out in “Breaking the Cycle” Green Paper and the Government Response, the Government have a radical new approach for working across Government and with the private and voluntary sectors to rehabilitate offenders. This includes closer partnership working at the local level; getting offenders free from drug and alcohol problems and addressing offenders’ mental health problems; improving offenders skills and getting them into work; and reducing barriers to resettlement.

Sentencing

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of people were sentenced to (a) custody and (b) community sentences in each magistrates' court in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of children were sentenced to (i) custody and (ii) community sentences in each juvenile court in the latest period for which figures are available.

Crispin Blunt: Tables showing (a) the number of persons proceeded against for all offences at each magistrates' court and sentenced to immediate custody and community sentences, by proportion, in England and Wales in 2010 (latest available) and (b) the number of persons proceeded against for all offences at each youth court and sentenced to immediate custody and community sentences, by proportion, in England and Wales in 2010 have been deposited in the House library.
	Annual court proceedings data for 2011 are planned for publication in May 2012.

Young Offenders: Restraint Techniques

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he has taken provide children held in the secure youth estate with alternative means of providing accounts of restraint where they are unable to read and write fluently following the coroner's recommendation on this issue in 2007.

Crispin Blunt: The Government fully recognise the importance of ensuring that young people in the under-18 secure estate have an opportunity to provide an account of events following a restraint incident, formally referred to as a ‘debrief’. The Youth Justice Board Code of Practice on Behaviour Management sets out an expectation that all under-18 establishments conduct debriefs with young people after they have been subject to restraint.
	In under-18 young offender institutions (YOIs) and secure training centres (STCs) debriefs are conducted between a young person and a member of staff. This does not rely on a young person's literacy skills and involves communicating with that young person based on their needs. Independent advocacy services are available in STCs and under-18 YOIs to assist young people in resolving issues related to their welfare, care and treatment which includes supporting young people who are unable to read and write during a restraint debrief. The aim should always be to allow the advocate to be present if the young person wishes it, provided this does not result in unreasonable delays in conducting the debrief.
	Statutory guidance for children's homes (including secure children's homes) requires that in any case where a child has been restrained, staff must make sure that they are offered debriefing and support which might also include access to advocacy if this is what the child wishes. This process places the responsibility on the home's staff and management to make sure that the child is properly debriefed and does not rely on the child having literacy skills.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Apprentices

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to his Department's press release of 6 September 2011 on apprenticeships, what the names are of the 20 companies which volunteered to trial payment by outcomes in relation to apprenticeships; how many apprentices each such company has employed since September 2011; and how many of these were (a) aged 16 to 18, (b) aged 19 to 24, (c) aged 25 and over, (d) female, (e) from a minority ethnic background and (f) people with a disability.

John Hayes: As at 22 February 2012, 24 employers are taking part in the large employer pilot to test an outcome-based payment system for apprenticeships.
	These are listed as follows. It is not possible to provide data on the total number of apprentices each company has employed.
	Employers in large employer pilot
	Employer name
	Barchester Healthcare
	Bhs Ltd
	Boots Opticians professional Services Ltd
	BT
	Carillion plc
	Compass Group UK and Ireland
	Cordant Group plc
	DHL Express UK and Ireland
	G4S
	Jarvis Training Management Ltd
	McDonalds
	National Grid
	Nestor Primecare Services Ltd
	Priory Central Services Ltd
	Reed
	Rentokil
	Select Service Partners Ltd
	Sodexo
	Spirit Pub Company (Services) Ltd
	Tesco Stores Ltd
	TUI UK and Ireland
	Veolia Environment Development Centre Ltd
	Whitbread plc
	Wincanton
	Source:
	Skills Funding Agency

Bus Services: Brighton

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has (a) held discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on and (b) made an assessment of how the recommendation of the Competition Commission to introduce legislation to give local transport authorities additional powers to introduce mandatory multi-operator ticketing schemes will affect the Big Lemon Bus service in Brighton and Hove; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: No assessment has been made of how any of the Competition Commission's recommendations arising from its Local Bus Services Market Investigation would affect every local bus operator in every individual local bus market. The Department for Transport's response to the Competition Commission's provisional remedies, available online at:
	http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/assets/bispartners/competitioncommission/docs/2010/localbus/dft_pdr_response.pdf
	makes clear the Government's support for effective multi-operator ticketing schemes. The formal Government response to the final report will be published in due course.

Bus Services: Competition

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will make it his policy to implement in full the recommendations made in the local bus services market investigation published by the Competition Commission in January 2012; if he will ensure that the Office of Fair Trading has sufficient resources to ensure that operators abide by any new rules arising from implementation of the recommendations; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: It is my intention to set out the Government's response to the final report of the “Local Bus Services Market Investigation” published by the Competition Commission in due course. The Under-Secretary of State for Transport, my hon. Friend the Member for Lewes (Norman Baker), has publicly set out his intention to make a statement on bus policy in the near future.

Business

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2012, Official Report, column 545W, on business, if he will place in the Library the information his Department has collected in the last year to ensure a full picture of key business clusters.

David Willetts: holding answer  28 February  2012
	The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) does not currently systematically collect information on key business clusters. Sector teams within BIS may produce information relating to their own areas. All key reports and research pieces in this area are available publically on the BIS website:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/

Business: Government Assistance

Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many people have registered to receive assistance from his Department's Get Mentoring scheme in (a) England, (b) Berkshire, (c) Reading and (d) Reading West constituency since its inception;
	(2)  how many business mentors have been recruited through his Department's Get Mentoring scheme in (a) England, (b) Berkshire, (c) Reading and (d) Reading West constituency since its inception.

Mark Prisk: Get Mentoring is a SFEDI-led (Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative) project, supported by grant funding (from both BIS and the Government Equalities Office,) to recruit and train 15,000 volunteer business mentors from the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) community.
	To date, over 4,000 volunteers have been recruited through this initiative, around 16% of whom are based in the south-east. This estimate is only approximate and based on the location of the workshop they attended. We do not currently have the data to ascertain how many were recruited from Berkshire, Reading and Reading West constituency specifically.
	Volunteer mentors recruited and trained through Get Mentoring are deployed via the mentoring organisations on mentorsme.co.uk, the national mentoring portal. People do not register to receive mentoring assistance via the Get Mentoring scheme.

Departmental Pay

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible are paid (i) £100,000 and (ii) £142,500 or more per annum.

Norman Lamb: There are 24 individuals in core BIS who earn between £100,000 and £142,499. In addition there are nine individuals in BIS who earn over £142,500.
	Similar information from BIS public bodies is not held centrally and to collect it would incur disproportionate costs.
	The Government are committed to publishing senior staff data as part of the transparency agenda. BIS data from these exercises is available on the website
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/transparency/staff
	Data from BIS non-departmental public bodies is available at
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/transparency/partners

Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will publish the information he holds on the take-up of the enterprise finance guarantee.

Mark Prisk: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) publishes enterprise finance guarantee lending figures on the BIS website. They are updated on a quarterly basis and available from the following link:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/enterprise-and-business-support/access-to-finance/enterprise-finance-guarantee/efg-statistics

Exports

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what (a) the value was of exports in 2011 and (b) objectives he has set for the level of exports by 2015 to (i) Bangladesh, (ii) Egypt, (iii) Indonesia, (iv) Iran, (v) Mexico, (vi) Nigeria, (vii) Pakistan, (viii) the Philippines, (ix) Turkey, (x) South Korea and (xi) Vietnam.

Mark Prisk: The information is as follows.
	(a) 2011 data for total exports to the countries as follows are not yet available. The following table shows the latest goods (2011) and services (2010) export data.
	
		
			 £ million 
			  UK exports of goods 2011 UK exports of services 2010 
			 Bangladesh 136 198 
			 Egypt 1,039 560 
			 Indonesia 631 325 
			 Iran 180 128 
			 Mexico 952 421 
			 Nigeria 1,543 1,280 
			 Pakistan 509 302 
			 Philippines 285 125 
			 Turkey 3,698 1,126 
			 South Korea 2,482 1,123 
			 Vietnam 325 192 
			 Source: HM Revenue and Customs (goods), Office for National Statistics (services) 
		
	
	(b) The Government aims to double bilateral trade with Turkey, Mexico and Nigeria by 2015 and to increase bilateral trade with Pakistan to £2.5 billion pounds by 2015.
	Under the UK Vietnam Strategic Partnership Agreement signed in 2010, the parties committed to doubling bilateral trade to £4billion and UK investment in Vietnam to more than £3 billion by 2013.
	There are no stated bilateral trade targets for Egypt or South Korea, but these markets are both designated as high growth markets in the current UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) five year strategy. Accordingly, UKTI is helping to target opportunities in these markets.
	There are no stated bilateral trade targets for Bangladesh, Indonesia or the Philippines but UKTI does provide services for UK companies seeking to do business in each of these markets.
	There is currently no programme in place to encourage bilateral trade with Iran.

Public Houses

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent progress he has made on introducing a statutory code of practice that includes (a) a free-of-tie-in option and (b) an independent adjudicator for the pub industry.

Norman Lamb: The Government have no plans to introduce a statutory code of practice for the pub industry. On 24 November 2011 the Government announced a new tough and legally binding form of self-regulation for the pub industry, including a strengthened industry framework code and the establishment of a Pubs Independent Conciliation and Arbitration Service (PICAS). As the code will now be legally binding, it will ultimately be enforceable through the courts.

Public Houses

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent progress he has made on the commissioning of an independent body to review the self-regulation of the pub industry in the autumn of 2012.

Norman Lamb: On 24 November 2011 the Government announced a new tough and legally binding form of self-regulation for the pub industry, including a strengthened industry framework code and the establishment of a Pubs Independent Conciliation and Arbitration Service (PICAS). As the code will now be legally binding, it will ultimately be enforceable through the courts. It would not be appropriate at this stage to commission a review.

Student Loans Company: Pay

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills for what reasons the Student Loans Company has agreed to account for PAYE and national insurance at source for the salary of its chief executive.

David Willetts: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills approved the appointment and remuneration package for the Student Loans Company (SLC) chief executive put forward by the SLC Board in December 2010. BIS and SLC followed the correct processes, gaining approval from across Government, and were satisfied that the package met the relevant guidelines, including value for money.
	While personal tax arrangements are a matter for the individual and HMRC, the SLC recognises concerns about ensuring the appropriate taxes are paid and the SLC has agreed to account for PAYE and national insurance at source in respect of the salary of its chief executive.

Students: Finance

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans the Student Loans Company has to change the application process for disabled students' allowances and childcare grants for students in England to enable students to apply for support online.

David Willetts: There are no such plans at present. The Student Loan Company (SLC) is currently working at full capacity delivering a programme of change that underpins the higher education reforms announced in 2011.
	Longer term, the SLC is committed to enhancing the disabled students' allowance and child care grant application processes and customer journey, including the provision of an online application, as resources become available.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Members: Pay

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Leader of the House whether he has plans for a debate on payments to hon. Members who have not taken their seats.

George Young: I have no plans for such a debate in the current session.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Equality and Human Rights Commission

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what assessment she has made of whether the Equality and Human Rights Commission is fulfilling its public sector equality duty under the Equality Act 2010 in respect of its duty to foster good relations between people who share a characteristic and those that do not in respect of (a) homosexual people and Christian people and (b) homosexual people and heterosexual people; and if she will make a statement.

Theresa May: holding answer 27 February 2012
	The Equality and Human Rights Commission is responsible for complying with the public sector equality duty in the same way as other public bodies. It is not for Ministers to assess compliance with the public sector equality duty,
	Ministers and officials have regular discussions with the Equality and Human Rights Commission about its overall performance.

Equality and Human Rights Commission: Manpower

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many and what proportion of employees at the Equalities and Human Rights Commission were (a) male, (b) female, (c) white, (d) from mixed or multiple ethnic groups, (e) Asian or British Asian, (f) Black African, Caribbean or Black British, (g) from another ethnic group, (h) lesbian or gay, (i) bisexual, (j) heterosexual, (k) transgendered, (l) no religion, (m) Christian, including Church of England, Catholic, Protestant and all other Christian denominations, (n) Buddhist, (o) Hindu, (p) Jewish, (q) Muslim, (r) Sikh, (s) members of other religions, (t) married, (u) civil partners, (v) single, (w) divorced, (x) widowed, (y) over 60 years old, (z) under 21 and (aa) disabled on the latest date for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Theresa May: Since the Equality and Human Rights Commission is an arm's length body; the following is therefore based on information it has provided. The information as follows reflects the position as at 31 March 2011.
	
		
			   Number Proportion 
			 (a) male 146 33 
			 (b) female 293 67 
			 (c) white 342 78 
			 (d) from mixed or multiple ethnic groups 11 3 
			 (e) Asian or British Asian 36 8 
			 (f) Black African, Caribbean or Black British 34 8 
			 (g) from another ethnic group(1) — — 
			 (h) lesbian or gay 26 6 
			 (i) bisexual 10 2 
			 (g) heterosexual 342 78 
			 (k) transgendered 0 0 
			 (i) no religion 173 39 
			 (m) Christian, including Church of England, Catholic, Protestant and all other Christian denominations 156 36 
			 (n) Buddhist(1) — — 
			 (o) Hindu(1) — — 
			 (p) Jewish(1) — — 
			 (q) Muslim 13 3 
			 (r) Sikh(1) — — 
			 (s) members of other religions 18 4 
			 (t) married 178 41 
			 (u) civil partners(1) — — 
			 (v) single 128 29 
			 (w) divorced 22 5 
			 (x) widowed 0 0 
			 (y) over 60 years old 25 5.70 
			 (z) under 21 years old 0 0 
			 (aa) disabled 100 23 
			 (1) Where the number of staff with a particular protected characteristic is fewer than 10, and the information is considered sensitive personal information that might lead to individuals being identified, the figures have been replaced with an asterisk.

Homophobia: Sports

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what discussions she has had with Ministerial colleagues in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on homophobia and transphobia in sports.

Theresa May: I and the Minister for Equalities, the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Lynne Featherstone), have spoken regularly with ministerial colleagues in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on tackling homophobia and transphobia in sport. On 5 March 2011, the Government launched the Charter for Action to deliver progress on this agenda. Both Departments are now working on its implementation.
	Most recently, on 22 February 2012, the Minister for Equalities attended a No. 10 summit on tackling discrimination in football chaired by the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), attended by the Minister for Sport and the Olympics, my hon. Friend the Member for Faversham and Mid Kent (Hugh Robertson). The summit included discussion of plans to tackle homophobia and transphobia in the game. Both Departments continue to work closely together to take forward this work.

EDUCATION

Adoption

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the rate of disruption in adoption services within the (a) UK and (b) Milton Keynes unitary authority area.

Tim Loughton: Data on adoption disruption following the making of an adoption order is not held centrally. I have recently commissioned the university of Bristol to carry out an investigation of adoption breakdown following the making of an adoption order; this will help us to understand better the reasons why adoptions do break down.
	Data collected by this Department (for England only) shows that of the 2,700 children placed for adoption at 31 March 2007, 4% left that placement without being adopted by the original prospective adopter though nearly 1% were subsequently adopted by other prospective adopters.
	Data for individual local authorities cannot be provided for confidentiality reasons due to the very small numbers of children leaving placements other than for adoption.
	When Ofsted last inspected Milton Keynes unitary authority in 2009, they stated the adoption disruption rate in that authority was "very low".

Children: Allergies

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what measures are in place to ensure that teachers and classroom assistants are aware of the risk of food allergies in children.

Nick Gibb: It is important that schools work closely with parents to ensure that pupils learn to manage their allergies and intolerances by making appropriate choices supported by school staff.
	Local authorities, schools and all those that provide catering services for school children are well aware of the importance of potentially allergenic food stuffs. The key action for schools is that the parents of any individual pupils with food allergies should discuss this with the school and agree how the allergy will be managed in the school. DFE published guidance on this, Managing Medicines, in 2008, which is being revised.
	Although there are no formal arrangements in place to make school staff aware of the risk of food allergies, advice is available from various organisations including the School Food Trust at:
	www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk
	the Anaphylaxis Campaign at:
	www.anaphylaxis.org.uk
	and the Health Education Trust at:
	www.healtheducationtrust.com

Dyslexia

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidelines he issues on testing for dyslexia.

Sarah Teather: The Department for Education does not issue guidelines on testing for dyslexia. It is important, however, that teachers are confident and able to identify reading difficulties at the earliest opportunity. 3,200 teachers have accessed specialist dyslexia training. We are developing specialist resources for initial teacher training and supporting teachers to obtain postgraduate qualifications through our National Scholarship Fund for teachers. These measures will enhance teachers' knowledge, understanding and skills and support them to identify dyslexic pupils earlier.
	In June this year we are also introducing a phonics screening check for all children in year one to support early identification of reading difficulties.

Education: Assessments

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what powers he has to (a) issue guidance on and (b) oversee the maintenance of standards for the marking of examinations in (i) Wales, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Northern Ireland in respect of courses which are followed (A) only in one of those countries and (B) in more than one country in the UK.

Nick Gibb: None. Qualifications policy is a devolved matter.
	Where qualifications that are used in more than one part of the UK are intended to be comparable, the qualifications regulators in each country will act to ensure consistency of standards.

Grammar Schools: Admissions

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils aged 11 to 15 years were in publicly-funded secondary schools in each of the last five years; and what proportion were in fully-selective publicly-funded schools.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Selective schools (1)  and state-funded secondary schools (2, 3) : Number (headcount) of pupils aged 11 to 15 (4, 5) ,  January each year: 2007 to 2011, England 
			  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 
			 Selective schools(1) 112,020 111,920 112,145 112,535 112,535 
			 State-funded secondary schools(2, 3) 2,902,840 2,861,490 2,831,435 2,809,410 2,785,405 
			 Percentage(6) 3.9 3.9 4.0 4.0 4.0 
			 (1) Includes 164 selective schools. (2) Includes middle schools as deemed. (3 )Includes city technology colleges and secondary academies. (4) Includes pupils who are sole or dual main registrations. (5) Age is calculated as at the previous 31 August each year. (6) The number of pupils attending a selective school expressed as a percentage of the number pupils attending a state-funded secondary school. Note: National figures have been rounded to the nearest five. Source: School Census

Members: Correspondence

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects to answer the hon. Member for Harrow West's letter about the answering of a parliamentary question on senior staff being paid through a private company.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 27 February 2012
	I wrote to the hon. Member on 24 February.

Schools: Inspections

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he has made an assessment of the cost of the proposed reinspections of schools by Ofsted that have been graded as outstanding overall but not outstanding in respect of their teaching.

Nick Gibb: Her Majesty's Chief Inspector is currently consulting on proposed changes to school inspections, including setting higher expectations for outstanding schools. Schools judged outstanding at their last inspection, including those that were not outstanding in respect of their teaching, may be subject to review of that status at some stage in the future. This would be determined by HM Chief Inspector following risk assessment by Ofsted. The cost of any inspections that result from this will be considered as part of the overall changes once decisions have been taken about the package of proposed reforms.

Schools: Transport

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the cost per pupil was of school transport (a) in each local education authority with a wholly selective admissions system and (b) on average in their statistical neighbours in each of the last five years.

Tim Loughton: We do not collect data on the cost per pupil of school transport. Funding for school transport is provided through Revenue Support Grant, paid by the Department for Communities and Local Government and locally generated council tax.

Teachers: Ex-servicemen

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress he has made on his proposal to recruit former members of the armed forces as teachers; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 27 February 2012
	We have worked closely with the Ministry of Defence and the Training and Development Agency for Schools on ways to bring more service leavers into the teaching profession. 155 Service leavers have applied for initial teacher training courses this year, which is significantly higher than the 40 to 50 we would normally expect to receive. Further to this, we have reserved 50 additional places on the Graduate Teacher programme, to commence from September 2012, which will be available exclusively to service leavers.
	We are also developing a new high quality programme which will recruit and train the most talented service leavers as teachers. We will announce further details of this programme later this year.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Skilled Workers

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for (a) Work and Pensions and (b) Business, Innovation and Skills on recognition of the skills acquired by service personnel while serving in the (i) Royal Navy, (ii) Royal Marines, (iii) Royal Air Force and (iv) Army by other employers.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 28 February 2012
	Wherever possible the armed forces seek to accredit their training to nationally recognised standards. The Department of Work and Pensions has no direct involvement in the accreditation of training, education and work experience but the Ministry of Defence works closely with a range of other bodies across Government including: the Department for Business Innovation and Skills; the Department for Education (Policy); Ofqual (Regulation of Standards), the National Apprenticeship Service; Sector Skills Councils (Standards); and Awarding Organisations (Qualification Development).

Radar: Wind Power

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2012, Official Report, column 336W, on radar: wind power, if he will list the location of the three new windfarm-tolerant radars referred to in that answer.

Andrew Robathan: The first of the new wind farm tolerant radars was installed in September 2011 at remote radar head (RRH) Trimingham, Norfolk. Two additional windfarm-tolerant radars at RRH Brizlee Wood, Northumberland and RRH Staxton Wold, North Yorkshire are scheduled for installation in January 2013 and September 2013 respectively.

CABINET OFFICE

Departmental Pay

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible are paid (i) £100,000 and (ii) £142,500 or more per annum.

Francis Maude: In 2010-11 my Department spent less on wages and salaries than it did in 2009-10.
	Since May 2010 the number of officials in my Department paid over £142,500 per annum has fallen. In April 2010, two officials in Cabinet Office non-departmental public bodies were paid such salaries. There are now none.
	At present there are 52 officials in my Department paid over £100,000 and none in a non-departmental public bodies.

Departmental Recruitment

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress he has made towards employing private sector non-executives to departmental boards; and what remuneration package is provided for each non-executive director drawn from the private sector serving on a departmental board.

Francis Maude: holding answer 27 February 2012
	Since May 2010 the Cabinet Office has driven forward efficiency programmes, which has identified £5 billion of savings for Departments in 2011-12. By appointing those with experience of managing complex organisations, including many world-class business heavyweights, to serve as Non-Executives on departmental boards the Government are introducing a more business-like ethos to Whitehall. The Non-Executives are challenging Departments to deliver the Government's objectives in a timely and cost-effective way. Our Non-Executives are offered remuneration in line with the guidance in “Corporate governance in central government departments: Code of good practice 2011”, which provides that:
	“Non-Executive board members will be remunerated at a rate which is in line with the Bank of England's non-executive Directors of Court”.
	In 2011-12 this was a rate of £15,000 per annum. An additional £5,000 is available to Lead Non-Executives and chairs of Audit and Risk Committees.
	59 Non-Executives have now been appointed to the Enhanced Departmental Boards. Of these 17, including eight Lead Non-Executives, waive their fees. Further Non-Executives have indicated they have donated, or intend to donate, their fee to charity.

Government Departments: Freedom of Information

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he intends to publish updated guidance on private email accounts and the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Francis Maude: holding answer 28 February 2012
	We will issue the guidance in due course.

Government Departments: Offices

Lee Scott: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent progress he has made with his planned disposal of surplus Government offices and other buildings.

Francis Maude: From 1 June 2010 to 31 January 2011 the Government have reduced the size of their civil estate by 10 million square feet. More than 775 buildings have been vacated during the same period, which includes exits from leasehold, freehold and PFI holdings. The estate has shrunk by 8.75% since May 2010 and is reducing at twice the rate when compared to the 18 months prior to the 2010 election.

Grace and Favour Housing

Greg Knight: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which Ministers in his Department have the use of grace and favour homes.

Francis Maude: The Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), have the use of the official residences above No. 10 and No. 11 Downing street respectively. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has the use of the residence at No. 1 Carlton gardens. The flats at Admiralty house are unoccupied.
	In addition the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer also have the use of Chequers and Dorneywood. The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs each have the use of Chevening.

Prostate Cancer: Death

Peter Bone: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many men in (a) Wellingborough constituency and (b) England died from advanced prostate cancer in each of the last five years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many men in a) Wellingborough constituency and b) England have died from advanced prostate cancer in each of the last five years. (97355)
	Table 1 as follows shows the number of deaths where prostate cancer was the underlying cause for England and the Wellingborough parliamentary constituency for 2006 to 2010 (the latest year available).
	Internationally accepted guidance from the World Health Organisation requires any conditions that contributed directly to a death to be recorded on the death certificate. In cases where a cancer is deemed to have contributed to a death, medical practitioners and coroners are not required to specify whether the cancer was advanced at the time of death.
	Figures on cancer incidence and mortality in the United Kingdom and constituent countries are published annually and are available here:
	www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/all-releases.html?definition=tcm%3A77-21518
	
		
			 Table 1. Number of deaths where underlying cause was prostate cancer in Wellingborough parliamentary constituency and England, 2006-10 (1, 2, 3) 
			 Deaths 
			 Area 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 England 8,506 8,659 8,597 8,842 9,082 
			 Wellingborough constituency 19 20 25 18 26 
			 (1) Prostate cancer is defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD 10) using code C61. (2) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year and exclude deaths of non-residents. (3) Figures are based on boundaries as of November 2011.

Public Bodies: Manpower

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number of people employed by departmental public bodies in each of the last five years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what estimate has been made of the number of people employed by departmental public bodies in each of the last five years. (97255)
	Estimates of employment by executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) are published on a quarterly basis by the Office for National Statistics as part of the Public Sector Employment statistical bulletin. Data are available for 2010 and 2011.
	Estimates for 2007-2009 were published by Cabinet Office as part of the annual Public Bodies publication.
	Crown NDPBs have been excluded from the estimate of employment by NDPBs to avoid double-counting with official Civil Service estimates. This is consistent with ONS's official estimates of Public Sector Employment that are produced on a quarterly basis.
	The requested data are as follows:
	
		
			 Employment in executive non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) (1, 2) —All employees 
			 Headcount 
			  2007 (3) 2008 (3) 2009 (3) 2010 (4) 2011 (5) 
			 Crown non-departmental public bodies(6) (7)4,570 (7)4,400 (8)15,070 (5,8)14,230 (5,9)13,480 
			 Non-departmental public bodies (excludes Crown NDPBs)(10) 96,460 92,700 96,060 90,640 81,900 
			 (1) Numbers are rounded to the nearest ten. (2) Advisory and Tribunal NDPBs, and Independent Monitoring Boards, rarely employ their own staff. They are usually supported by civil servants from the sponsoring Government Department. (3) Figures for NDPB's for 2007, 2008 and 2009 are taken from their respective annual Public Bodies Reports, which were collected and published by Cabinet Office. Estimates relate to 31 March. (4) Figures from Q2 2010 Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey (Office far National Statistics). (5) Figures from Q2 2011 Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey (Office for National Statistics). (6) Estimate taken from ONS Civil Service Statistics publication. (7) Includes Health and Safety Commission, the Health and Safety Executive and ACAS (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service). (8) Includes employees of ACAS, Health and Safety Executive, Child Maintenance Enforcement Commission, Office for Budget Responsibility and Civil Service Commission. (9) Includes employees of ACAS, Health and Safety Executive, Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, Child Maintenance Enforcement Commission, Office for Budget Responsibility and Civil Service Commission. (10) Crown NDPBs have not been Included as part of non-departmental public bodies to avoid double-counting with civil service headcount estimates. Source: Office for National Statistics and Cabinet Office

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Bangladesh

Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on social protection programmes intended to improve nutritional outcomes for (a) children and (b) pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in Bangladesh in (i) 2008, (ii) 2009, (iii) 2010 and (iv) 2011; and what his Department's assessment was of the effect of such programmes.

Alan Duncan: The UK funds three programmes in Bangladesh with elements of social protection that improve nutritional outcomes. These programmes target households including women and children, and total expenditure over the last four financial years was:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 (i) 2008-09 33.5 
			 (ii) 2009-10 31.4 
			 (iii) 2010-11 44.7 
			 (iv) 2011-12 (1)34.5 
			 (1) Estimate 
		
	
	These programmes improved the nutritional status of mothers and reduced acute malnutrition, stunting and anaemia in under fives. A new programme will give direct nutrition support to over half a million extreme poor women, children and adolescent girls.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Atos Healthcare: Scotland

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Which Atos assessment centres are located in Scotland; and which such centres employ mental health champions.

Chris Grayling: Across the UK, Atos Healthcare has introduced 60 Mental Function Champions to assist and advise healthcare professionals on a national basis. Within Scotland, the Mental Function Champions are based in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
	Of the 148 Medical Assessment Centres in the UK, 30 are sited in Scotland, these are as follows:
	Aberdeen—484 Union Street, Aberdeen, AB10 1TS
	Ayr—Russell House, King Street, Ayr KA 80AB
	Banff—The Clinic Chalmers Hospital, Clunie Street, Banff, AB45 1HY
	Benbecula—Benbecula Hospital, Balivanich, Benbecula, Benbecula, HS7 5LA
	Berwick—Berwick Infirmary, Main Reception, Infirmary Square, TD15 1LT
	Campbeltown—40 Hall Street, Campbeltown, PA28 6BZ
	Dumfries—67-75 Irish Street, 1st Floor (Within JCP Office), Dumfries, DG1 2PQ
	Dundee—Caledonian House, Greenmarket, Dundee DD1 4QP
	Edinburgh—44 York Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3HU
	Fort William—Community Wing Health Centre, Camaghael, PH33 7AQ
	Glasgow—Corunna House, 29 Cadogan Street, Glasgow G2 7RD
	Golspie—Lawson Memorial Hospital, Golspie, KW10 6SS
	Greenock—1 Duff Street, Greenock, PA15 1DB
	Hawick—Hawick Health Centre, Teviot Road, TD9 9DT
	Inverness—2 Baron Taylors Street, Inverness, IV1 1QL
	Islay—Islay Hospital, Gortonvogie Road, Isle of Islay, PA43 7JD
	Irkcaldy—Government Buildings, 26 Victoria Road, Kirkcaldy KY1 1EA
	Kirkwall—Balfour Hospital, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1GH
	Lerwick—Market House, 14 Market Street, Lerwick, ZE1 OJP
	Lossiemouth—The Moray Coast Med Pract, Muirton Road, Lossiemouth, IV31 6TU
	Montrose (Townhead)—Links Health Centre, Marine Avenue, Montrose.DD10 8TR
	Newton Stewart—Health Centre, Creebridge, Newton Stewart, DG8 6NP
	Oban—Lorn District Hospital, Glengallan Road, Oban,PA34 4HH
	Perth—The Medical Centre, Caledonian Road, Perth, PH2 8HH
	Portree—Portree Hospital, Portree, Skye, IV51 9BZ
	Stirling—Government Buildings, 2 St Ninians Road, Stirling, FK8 2HF
	Stornoway—Health Centre, Springfield Rd, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, HS1 2PS
	Stranraer—Out Pt Dept, Galloway Community Hospital, Dalrymple Street, DG9 7DQ
	Thurso—Dunbar Hospital, Ormlie Road, Thurso, KW14 7XE
	Wick—Wick Medical Centre, Martha Terrace, Wick, KW1 5EL

Children: Maintenance

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what revenue his Department expects to raise (a) in the current spending review period until 2014-15 and (b) in the following spending review period, from charging applicants to the future statutory maintenance system an application fee of £20.

Maria Miller: The total revenues from charging for applications to the future scheme are dependent upon the levels of applications and these are subject to a degree of uncertainty. The following table shows the likely range for this spending review (SR10) and an equivalent for the following four years (SR14).
	
		
			 Charging fee estimate SR10 SR14 
			 Application fee revenue (£ million) £4 million to £6 million £9 million to £13 million 
		
	
	Further details will follow in the impact assessments which will accompany the charging regulations.

Children: Maintenance

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the cost of collecting a £20 application fee to access the future statutory maintenance system in (a) the current spending review period until 2014-15 and (b) the following spending review period.

Maria Miller: The application fee is payable upfront before an application proceeds and is collected as part of the application process. The incremental costs are expected to be negligible.
	Further details will follow in the impact assessments which will accompany the charging regulations.

Cold Weather Payments: Reading (Berkshire)

Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Reading West constituency have received a cold weather payment in each of the last three years.

Steve Webb: The weather station associated with the Reading West constituency over the last three years is South Farnborough. The number of benefit units we estimate to have had a payment in the area covered by the weather station is in the following table.
	
		
			 Estimated number of benefit units that received at least one cold weather payment for weather stations linked to postcode districts in the Reading West constituency 
			 Weather station 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 South Farnborough 0 64,600 65,300 
			 Notes: 1. The information provided is management information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have management information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National Statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, figures given are estimates. Actuals are not available. Estimates for 2011-12 maybe revised after the end of the cold weather payment season, but will still be estimates not actuals. 2. A cold weather payment is made to an eligible customer when the average temperature has been recorded as, or is forecast to be, 0°C or below over seven consecutive days at the weather station linked to the customer's postcode. (When the temperature criterion is met, the weather station is said to trigger.) 3. South Farnborough weather stations is linked both to an area within the Reading West constituency and also to an area outside the Reading West constituency. Estimated numbers given are for the weather station as a whole, not for the part of the Reading West constituency linked to the weather station. 4. Cold weather payments are made to benefit units. A benefit unit can be a single person or a couple and can include children. 5. Some benefit units received more than one payment in a year. 6. Estimated numbers have been rounded to the nearest 100. Sources: Postcode district to weather station links: Department for Work and Pensions records. Records of triggers and estimates of potential qualifiers by weather station: Department for Work and Pensions records.

Disability Living Allowance

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will add 22q11.2 deletion syndrome to the list of medical conditions in the medical guidance for disability living allowance and attendance allowance decision makers.

Chris Grayling: A short description of this condition will be added to the Customer Case Management glossary of terms used by decision makers.

Housing Benefit

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Leeds North West constituency, (b) the Yorkshire region and (c) England were in receipt of housing benefit in each year since 2009; and what he expects the equivalent figures to be in each of the next three years.

Steve Webb: Forecasts of future housing benefit stock are only available at a national (Great Britain) level. These are published in table C1 at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/autumn_2011.xls
	The information available on previous years is presented in the following table.
	
		
			 Housing benefit recipients in England, Yorkshire and the Humber region and Leeds North West parliamentary constituency, as at the dates shown 
			   Total 
			 November 2011 England 4,215,430 
			  Yorkshire and the Humber 433,420 
			    
			 November 2010 England 4,092,150 
			  Yorkshire and the Humber 419,500 
			    
			 November 2009 England 3,897,420 
			  Yorkshire and the Humber 396,720 
			    
			 January 2011 Leeds North West parliamentary constituency 4,760 
			 Notes: 1. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 3. SHBE is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data are available monthly from November 2008 and November 2011 are the most recent available. 4. Recipients are as at second Thursday of the month. 5. Information is not available for housing benefit recipients at parliamentary constituency level each month from November 2008. 6. However the Department has published information on housing benefit and council tax benefit caseloads at parliamentary constituency level for January 2011 only on its website at: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/hb_ctb/hb_ctb_parlc_jan11.xls Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE)

Housing Benefit: Pension Credit

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether one or both of a couple in receipt of housing benefit have to have reached the pension credit qualifying age in order to be exempt from the new under-occupancy rules to be introduced in 2013.

Steve Webb: The under occupation measure in the social rented sector applies to those of working age. For couples currently claiming housing benefit, both the claimant and their partner need to be under the, qualifying age for pension credit to be treated as working age. When universal credit is introduced, if either member in a couple is under the qualifying age for pension credit then the couple would be treated as working age. They would then be expected to access universal credit rather than pension credit.
	It is intended that those already in receipt of pension credit at April 2013 will be protected, and continue to receive pension credit as long as they continue to meet the other qualifying conditions.

International Pension Centre

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases of fraud have been identified by (a) the International Pension Centre and (b) International Pension Service officers based in UK embassies and high commissions in each of the last five years.

Steve Webb: The information is as follows.
	(a) This information is not collated.
	(b) International Pension Centre officers in the Indian Sub Continent and Yemen perform validation checks at the claims gateway to prevent fraud from entering the system. The number of fraud cases identified is not collated. In Spain we have a Spanish fraud hotline for ex-patriots to report suspected cases of benefit fraud. The hotline is run by the International Pension Centre officers in Spain. From 1 April 2009 to 31 January 2012 this hotline has identified 622 fraud cases.

International Pensions Centre

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has any plans to review the operation of International Pension Service officers located at UK embassies and high commissions.

Steve Webb: The Department for Work and Pensions reviewed the operation of International Pensions Service officers located overseas in late 2011. This review concluded that there was no unequivocal evidence that these officers protected the Department from fraudulent benefit claims. On that basis we decided that this service had reached a natural break point. We have since been provided with further evidence of risk in relation to the Indian Subcontinent area, which was not made available to the original review. We have therefore decided that we should retain a local presence in Pakistan and Bangladesh for the time being. This will allow us to gain further evidence of their effectiveness at combating the risk of fraud. As part of our commitment to continuously improving the effectiveness and value of our services, we will reconsider this position in the future.

International Pensions Centre

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of savings made through early detection of fraudulent or erroneous claims by International Pension Centre staff based overseas in the latest period for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: In 2009-10 the cost of having the International Pension Centre Officers in the Indian Sub Continent, Yemen and Spain was £664,000 and the estimated benefit savings for the Indian Sub Continent and Yemen was £2.5 million and savings of £1.2 million for Spain.

New Enterprise Allowance

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the level of take-up has been of the (a) new enterprise allowance and (b) New Enterprise Allowance Loan in (i) Skipton and Ripon constituency, (ii) North Yorkshire, (iii) Yorkshire and the Humber region and (c) the UK since its introduction.

Chris Grayling: The Department does not publish new enterprise allowance statistics at the levels requested. Information for Great Britain is published which shows that, for the period January to November 2011, the number of mentor starts was 6,880, of which 1,310 were in the north east. In the same period in Great Britain, the number of weekly allowance starts was 1,960, of which 300 were in the north east official statistics are available and can be viewed at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/pwp/pwp_gbw_feb12.pdf
	The Department does not publish statistics for new enterprise allowance loans.

Pensions: Fraud

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of fraudulent overseas pensions claims in the latest period for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: This information is not available.

Public Sector: Redundancy

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people made redundant from a job in the public sector since January 2010 who have subsequently been re-employed.

Nick Hurd: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking for the number of people made redundant from a job in the public sector since January 2010 who have subsequently been re-employed.
	The requested information is not available. Official estimates of redundancies are derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). However, the details required to identify redundancies in the public sector are not collected. Also, the LFS only identifies people who have become re-employed within three months of the date of redundancy.

Social Security Benefits

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the total household income including working tax credit, child tax credit, child benefit and council tax benefit of a couple working 16 hours a week on the minimum wage living in their own home and paying £1,000 in council tax (a) currently, (b) after changes to qualifying requirements for working tax credit on 1 April 2012 and (c) including out-of-work benefits.

Chris Grayling: On the assumption that this couple has two children:
	(a) Prior to April 2012, this household would be entitled to working tax credit and they would have income of around £330 per week. This includes around £19 a week in council tax benefit.
	(b) In 2012-13, this household would not be entitled to receive working tax credit and would have income of around £257 per week. This includes around £19 a week in council tax benefit.
	(c) If this household was out of work their income would be around £271 per week. This includes around £19 a week in council tax benefit.
	The Government are reforming the welfare system through the introduction of universal credit in October 2013. Universal credit is designed to improve financial work incentives. And in this example the couple will be around £95 per week better off working 16 hours a week compared to being out of work.
	Notes:
	1. Part (a) is based on the tax/benefit system in 2011-12
	2. Parts (b) and (c) are based on the tax/benefit system in 2012-13
	3. Universal credit is based on the tax/benefit system in 2014-15
	4. Income is defined as net earnings in addition to any benefits or tax credits.
	5. Council tax of £1,000 a year has been equated to approximately £19 a week.
	6. All numbers have been provided in 2011-12 prices and where necessary deflated by the GDP Deflator. All numbers have been rounded to the nearest £1.

Widowed Parents Allowance

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to ensure that entitlement to widowed parents allowance is not affected by the introduction of income-related criteria for eligibility for child benefit.

Steve Webb: When child benefit will cease for people who are higher rate taxpayers, we will ensure that, when the change is introduced, entitlement to widowed parent's allowance is not affected as a result.

Winter Fuel Payments

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of higher rate taxpayers who were in receipt of (a) a free television licence and (b) winter fuel allowance in the latest period for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: The following table provides estimates on the number of TV Licence (aged 75 or over) and winter fuel payment recipients that are higher or additional rate taxpayers.
	The estimates are based on Department for Work and Pensions forecasting data combined with information on the tax paid by older people from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs Survey of Personal Incomes, and information on the overall numbers of pensioners from the Office for National Statistics population projections.
	
		
			 2011-12 
			  Number of recipients that are higher or additional rate taxpayers (thousand) 
			 (a) TV licence (aged 75 or over) 100 
			 (b) Winter fuel payment 600 
			 Notes: 1. The figures assume that all taxpayers aged 75 or over benefit from a free TV Licence, and all taxpayers aged over women's state pension age benefit from a winter fuel payment. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100,000 individuals. 3. The figures present higher and additional rate taxpayers together due to rounding conventions. 
		
	
	In 2011-12 around 2% of all TV Licence recipients (aged 75 or over) were higher or additional rate taxpayers. In the same year around 5% of winter fuel payment recipients aged under 80, and 2% of those aged 80 and over, were higher or additional rate taxpayers.

Work Capability Assessment

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of those awarded points under Activity 7, Understanding Communication, in work capability assessments undertaken between April and November 2011 did not have hearing loss.

Chris Grayling: It is not possible to provide a breakdown of individuals who do not have hearing loss but scored against activity 7 as the data cannot be reliably split to that level of detail. However we do publish quarterly stats which provide details of primary condition and details of the percentage of people assigned to the Work Related Activity Group because of scoring 15 points or more at assessment split by type of functional impairment.
	These statistics are available at:
	http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/esa_wca/esa_wca_20120124_tables.xls

Work Capability Assessment: Northern Ireland

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which providers are performing work capability assessments in Northern Ireland.

Chris Grayling: Matters of social security in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

A4e

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contracts his Department has with A4e; and what the (a) purpose and (b) monetary value is of each such contract.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has no contracts with A4e.

Departmental Internet

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what public services his Department delivers online only.

David Lidington: The following Foreign and Commonwealth Office public services are available online only:
	Search of sanctions and export controls:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/what-we-do/services-we-deliver/export-controls-sanctions/country-listing/
	Searchable travel advice and contact details of UK embassies overseas by country:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/
	The Academic Technology Approval Scheme:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/what-we-do/services-we-deliver/atas/
	Search of documents on British policy overseas:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/our-history/historical-publications/documents-british-policy/
	Search for UK Treaties
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/treaties/search
	(treaties can also be found in public legal libraries).
	Other services such as passport renewal and replacement, legalisation (e.g. certificates, apostilles etc.), and scholarships are primarily dealt with online but offline options also exist.

Departmental Responsibilities

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2012, Official Report, column 73W, on Adam Werritty, what the (a) subject and (b) purpose was of the meeting on (i) 8 September 2009 and (ii) 16 June 2010; who else was present at each meeting; whether any minute or other record was made of each meeting; and whether there was advance knowledge of each meeting by (A) Ministers, (B) the relevant county desk of his Department and (C) the security services; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: It is not normal Government practice to comment on the participation at meetings held by officials or subjects discussed. Information regarding the participants at the meetings on 8 September 2009 and 16 June 2010 is already in the public domain. Relevant Ministers and senior officials were aware of the meetings mentioned.

Departmental Responsibilities

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2012, Official Report, column 73W, on Adam Werritty, who else attended the dinner on 6 February 2011; whether any officials from (a) his Department and (b) the Ministry of Defence were present; what was discussed; whether any minute or other record was made of the discussion; who hosted and paid for the event; and whether official guidance on receipt of hospitality by Ministers and officials was followed.

David Lidington: It is not normal Government practice to comment on the participation at meetings held by officials or subjects discussed. Relevant Ministers and senior officials were aware of the meetings mentioned.

Kosovo: Serbia

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the progress of talks between Kosovo and Serbia on normalising relations between those countries.

David Lidington: The EU-facilitated dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo is continuing. A meeting took place from 22-24 February 2012 where agreement was reached on Kosovo's participation in regional fora and a technical protocol concluded on implementation of an agreement on management of the border between Kosovo and Serbia.
	Previous meetings under the dialogue have led to a number of agreements between the two parties, including on civil records, cadastral records, freedom of movement, customs stamps, university diplomas and integrated border management. Implementation of these agreements is underway.
	Energy and telecommunications are two headings under the dialogue on which agreements have yet to be concluded. There are likely to be further areas, yet to be formally added by the parties to the dialogue agenda, where agreement between Serbia and Kosovo will be needed in order to fulfil the objectives of the dialogue. The dialogue aims to improve the lives of citizens in both countries and to move both Serbia and Kosovo further down the path to EU accession.

Western Sahara

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which UN special rapporteurs have visited Western Sahara since the renewal of the MINURSO mandate.

Alistair Burt: UNSCR 1979 on the situation concerning Western Sahara, adopted on 27 April 2011, welcomed the commitment of Morocco to ensure unqualified and unimpeded access to all Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council.
	Farida Shaheed was appointed as UN expert in the field of cultural rights on 1 November 2009. During her mission she met Government officials and civil society representatives, in addition to academics, grass roots leaders, and representatives from different cultural communities and minority groups

Western Sahara

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to to ask the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression to visit occupied Western Sahara.

Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has no plans to ask the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression to visit Western Sahara. The British Government are committed to the independence of UN Special Rapporteurs and their right to fulfil their mandates as they choose. For this reason, we are not involved in decisions concerning the remit of their work.
	Officials from the British embassy visit the territory regularly and speak to a range of interlocutors including officials and human rights organisations.